Touzi Datong
Touzi Datong
819 – 914
Touzi Datong (投子大同, 819–914) was a Dharma heir of Cuiwei Wuxue and thus a great-grandstudent of Shitou Xiqian; he settled on Mount Touzi in modern Anhui, where he taught for several decades into great old age[1]. The lamp records describe his community as small and unobtrusive — students travelled long distances to find him, and Xuefeng Yicun famously visited Touzi three times during the journey that culminated in his transmission from Deshan[2].
His recorded sayings, gathered in the *Touzi Datong Chánshī Yǔlù*, are spare and elliptical; the *Bìyán Lù* preserves several of his exchanges, including the well-known dialogue beginning "What about the matter prior to the Buddha's appearance?" — to which Touzi turns the question back into the questioner's hands[3]. His name was deliberately revived two centuries later by Touzi Yiqing of the Caodong revival, who took the mountain as a place of practice in conscious continuity with the older Touzi line[4].
Names
Teachers and lineage of Touzi Datong
Teacher / root master:
Teachings
- dialogueAll Sounds Are Buddha-Sound
A monk asked Touzi, "All sounds are the sounds of Buddha—right or wrong?" Touzi said, "Right." The monk said, "Teacher, does your ass not make wind?" Touzi struck him. Another monk asked, "What is the Buddha?" Touzi said, "Buddha." The monk said, "What is the Dharma?" Touzi said, "Dharma." The monk said, "What is the Sangha?" Touzi said, "Sangha." Xuedou commented: "Three answers, three arrows. But Touzi, where are you hiding?"
- dialogueAll Three Bodies of Buddha
A monk asked Touzi, "The Dharma body—can it preach the Dharma?" Touzi said, "I don't preach to the Dharma body. I only preach to you." The monk said, "What do you preach?" Touzi said, "Pick up your bowl and go eat." A monk asked, "What is a Buddha who has not yet attained Buddhahood?" Touzi said, "Buddha." The monk said, "Then what is a Buddha who has attained Buddhahood?" Touzi said, "Buddha."
Other masters in Qingyuan line
Master Record Sources
819-914
Touzi Datong
Qingyuan line
- koan_refsChart of the Chan Ancestors
41,79,80 63 33,49 91 55,97
- nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Touzi Datong
- teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Cuiwei Wuxue