Wuzhun Shifan
Wuzhun Shifan
1178 – 1249
Wuzhun Shifan (無準師範, 1178–1249) was one of the most influential Linji-Yangqi-line masters of the late Southern Song and the abbot of the major Jingshan (徑山) monastery near Hangzhou under the patronage of Emperor Lizong[1]. His community drew students from across East Asia, including the Japanese monks Enni Ben'en and Mukan Fumon, both of whom returned to Japan after receiving his transmission and founded major Rinzai institutions there[2].
The portrait of Wuzhun painted in 1238 and presented to Enni is the earliest dated *chinsō* (Chan-master portrait) preserved in Japan; it is held at Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto and designated a National Treasure, and it is one of the most reproduced single images of a Chan teacher in the iconographic tradition[3]. Through his Japanese students he is the figure through whom much of Song-period literary and ritual Chan first reached the Kamakura Rinzai monasteries[4].
Names
Disciples of Wuzhun Shifan
Teachers and lineage of Wuzhun Shifan
Teacher / root master:
Teachings
- dialogueTeaching the Japanese Monk
When the Japanese monk Enni Ben'en came to study with Wuzhun Shifan at Jingshan, Wuzhun asked him, "What did you come here to seek?" Enni said, "The Dharma of the patriarchs." Wuzhun said, "The Dharma of the patriarchs is already in Japan—why did you cross the sea?" Enni said, "I came to verify what I already have." Wuzhun said, "A good answer. Now let us see if what you have is genuine."
- sayingThe Gate of Jingshan
Wuzhun said to his assembly at Jingshan: "The gate of this mountain is open to everyone. But to enter the gate, you must leave everything outside it. Your learning, your merit, your rank—all outside. Your concepts of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—outside. Even your concept of leaving things outside must be left outside. When there is nothing left to leave, then you have entered. And then you will find that the gate was never there."
- dialogueThe Meaning of Practice
A monk asked Wuzhun, "What is the meaning of a lifetime of practice?" Wuzhun said, "Walking, standing, sitting, lying down." The monk said, "Everyone walks, stands, sits, and lies down. How is that practice?" Wuzhun said, "When I walk, I only walk. When I sit, I only sit. You walk and think of sitting. You sit and think of walking. That is the difference."
Other masters in Yangqi line
Master Record Sources
- datesZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
1178-1249
- nameZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Wuzhun Shifan
- teachersZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation
Poan Zuxian