Jiashan Shanhui
Jiashan Shanhui
805 – 881
Jiashan Shanhui (夾山善會, 805–881) is recorded in the *Jǐngdé Chuándēng Lù* and the *Zǔtáng Jí* as a former lecturer-monk whose merely intellectual understanding was exposed by Daowu Yuanzhi: when Jiashan, then well known for his expositions, claimed that "the Dharmakāya has no marks; the Dharma-eye has no flaw," Daowu directed him to seek out the ferryman Chuanzi Decheng on the Huating River[1].
At that meeting Chuanzi, after a series of probing questions, capsized the boat into the water and shouted, "Speak! Speak!" — and as Jiashan began to reply, Chuanzi struck him with the oar, precipitating his awakening. Chuanzi then capsized his own boat and disappeared into the river, having transmitted his Dharma to a single heir[2]. Jiashan later settled on Mount Jia (in modern Hunan), where he established a community that became a major training centre of the Yaoshan / Qingyuan stream; his principal heir Luopu Yuanan carried the line forward, and his recorded sayings preserve the somewhat astringent style that characterised the Jiashan line through the late Tang[3].
Names
Disciples of Jiashan Shanhui
Teachers and lineage of Jiashan Shanhui
Teacher / root master:
Teachings
- dialogueJiashan and the Boat Monk
The Boat Monk Chuanzi met Jiashan at a river crossing. He asked Jiashan, "In what temple do you stay?" Jiashan said, "I don't stay in a temple. Where I stay is not like anything." The Boat Monk said, "Not like anything—like what?" Jiashan said, "Not the Dharma before your eyes." The Boat Monk said, "A single phrase and you go on elaborating. Quick, get out!" And he capsized the boat. When Jiashan climbed back, the Boat Monk shouted, "Speak! Speak!" As Jiashan was about to open his mouth, the Boat Monk struck him with his oar. At this Jiashan was deeply awakened. Afterward Jiashan said: "I had a thousand sayings on the tip of my tongue. One blow from an oar—and they all became one."
After his awakening, Jiashan taught: "The place where I dwell is not a temple, not a mountain, not a city. It has no walls and no floor. It cannot be pointed to and cannot be missed. When a student asks me where it is, I say: right here. When the student looks, I say: already gone. This is the place that is not like anything—and it is the only place you have ever actually lived."
Featured in
- Traditional Zen Encounter DialoguesThe Boat Monk's Transmission
Other masters in Qingyuan line
Master Record Sources
805-81
Jiashan Shanhui
Qingyuan line
- koan_refsChart of the Chan Ancestors
35, 68 6,10 26,29 47
- nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Jiashan Shanhui
- teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Chuanzi Decheng