After thoroughly exploring and savoring the paths of the world, Hanshan withdrew from society in 7th century China in search of himself. He lived as a hermit in the wilderness of Hanshan, the "Cold Mountain," and wrote unheard poems on trees, rocks, and house walls. "The Cold Mountain" became a cult book for countless seekers who do not want their own unique path to inner truth dictated by society, religious institutions, or gurus. Chinese and Japanese poets, painters, and Zen masters have been equally inspired by Hanshan, as have the poets of the Beat Generation and the travelers of the modern West.