Yuanwu Keqin | |
---|---|
Title | monk |
Personal | |
Born | 1063 |
Died | 1135 |
Religion | Buddhism |
Nationality | Han Chinese |
School | Chan Buddhism |
Senior posting | |
Successor | Dahui Zonggao |
Part of a series on |
Zen Buddhism |
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Yuanwu Keqin ( Chinese: 圓悟克勤; pinyin: Yuánwù Kèqín; Wade–Giles: Yuan-wu K'e-ch'in; Japanese: Engo Kokugon) (1063–1135) was a Han Chinese Chan monk who compiled the Blue Cliff Record. [1]
Yuanwu Keqin was born into the Le family of Pengzhou, Sichuan, in 1063. His family was well educated in Confucianism, a sign of acquaintance with the Chinese civil service. [2] Nevertheless, Yuanwu Keqin choose a Buddhist monastic path and entered Miaoji Monastery ( Chinese: 妙寂禪院; pinyin: Miàojì Chányuàn,a Buddhist monastery in Pengzhou. He ended his formal studies under Wuzu Fayan (1047-1104) when he was in his forties. [2] Yuanwu Keqin was closely involved in the literati circles. [3]
Yuanwu Keqin belonged to the Linji school. He was the teacher of Dahui Zonggao, who introduced the Hua Tou practice. [4]
Starting from the year 1112 on, Yuan-wu started to lecture on the One Hundred Old Cases and Verses [to the Cases] [5] compiled by Xuedou Zhongxian (980–1052). These lectures resulted in the Blue Cliff Record. [6] [1]
The Blue Cliff Record gives clear instructions about the correct approach to kōan. Yuanwu went as far as to annotate the poems line by line [7] to make clear the correct reading of Xuedou's appended verses, [6] which are complex, because of the rich use of symbolism and the allusions to Chinese secular literature and to Chan history. [7]
According to the Chán-tradition, the Blue Cliff Record gained such a popularity, that Dahui Zonggao burned all the copies he could lay hands on, and the wooden printing blocks. [4]
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