Shishuang Qingzhu
Shishuang Qingzhu
807 – 888
Shishuang Qingzhu (石霜慶諸, 807–888) was the Dharma heir of Daowu Yuanzhi and one of the most distinctive teachers of the late-Tang Yaoshan stream. The *Jǐngdé Chuándēng Lù* describes the community he established on Mount Shishuang (in modern Hunan) as the "withered-tree hall" (枯木堂), so called because its monks were trained to sit with such radical stillness that they were said to look like "dead trees and cold ashes" — a practice that prefigures the silent-illumination (*mòzhào chán*) of the later Caodong revival[1].
Shishuang's recorded instruction — "Cease and desist; be like a censer in an old shrine, like a length of bleached silk" — became one of the most-quoted formulae of late-Tang Caodong-stream practice, cited by Hongzhi Zhengjue and by Dōgen as an early expression of the *mòzhào / shikantaza* line of teaching[2]. The lamp records note that after his death his community faced a celebrated succession dispute resolved in favour of Jiufeng Daoqian, who declined to identify himself as Shishuang's heir until forced to do so by a public test of understanding posed by the head monk[3].
Names
Disciples of Shishuang Qingzhu
Teachers and lineage of Shishuang Qingzhu
Teacher / root master:
Teachings
- sayingCold Ashes, Dead Tree
Shishuang taught his monks: "Cease all agitation. Cease all involvement. Be cold ashes. Be a dead tree. Be a strip of white silk. Be a censer in an ancient ruined shrine." He called this the practice of "ten thousand years in one thought"—not the obliteration of thought, but the return to a stillness so complete that time itself dissolves.
- dialogueAlive or Dead in Sitting
Jianyuan came to Shishuang and told him of his encounter with Daowu at the condolence visit, where Daowu had refused to say whether the corpse was alive or dead. Jianyuan asked, "Why did he refuse?" Shishuang said, "I won't say alive, I won't say dead." Jianyuan said, "Why won't you say?" Shishuang said, "I won't say, I won't say." At these words, Jianyuan suddenly understood and bowed. Shishuang said: "The one who understands alive-or-dead without choosing either—that one sits in the monastery of the ten directions without moving."
- sayingCease and Desist
Shishuang said: "Cease and desist. Spend ten thousand years in one thought. Be cold ashes and a dead tree. Be a strip of white silk. Be cold and severe as the ancient censer in a ruined temple."
Other masters in Qingyuan line
Master Record Sources
807-88
Shishuang Qingzhu
Qingyuan line
- koan_refsChart of the Chan Ancestors
55,91 68,89,96 46 8,11
- nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Shishuang Qingzhu
- teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Daowu Yuanzhi