佛祖統紀 19.17

19.17

Dharma Master Wénjié, courtesy name Tōngsǒu, called himself Cāo'ān. He was a son of the Xià clan of Cíxī in Siming. For generations, they were a great clan of more than a hundred families; passers-by would often hear the sound of recitation of books. His father, taboo name Lìnián, was a worthy and honest man [...]. At that time, there was Lecture Master Dìng, the ancestral uncle, who resided at Tǔshān; he personally marvelled at [Wénjié's] appearance and encouraged him to leave home at Yǒngmíng Monastery in the county. In the following year, he had his head shaved. At age seventeen, he travelled [...] Qiān and Yuè'ān were both steep and rigorous masters of the Home-Mountain faction; the Master and Tián were naturally intelligent and responsive without [...] yet he had not attained anything. He met Dharma Master Bǎitíng Yuè of the secondary teaching at Xīshān, who tempered and refined students with a great forge. The Master thereupon erected the banner of vigorous advancement and remained there for thirteen years. Later, he accompanied him to Upper Tianzhu. There were the three masters Qiān, Huì, and Yìng, all of whom had great renown; joined with the Master, they were called the Four Outstanding Ones. Bǎitíng said to the Master, 'My country, my country! You have attained my complete wholeness. But after all, what is the single phrase that hits the mark precisely?' The Master said in a stern voice, 'Blind the crown of the head! Within the pot, there is another spring.' At this point, throughout heaven above and earth below, there is not a single visible form to be seen, nor a single pleasing appearance to be enjoyed. When Bǎitíng retired from his duties at the age of ninety, the assembly dispersed, but the Master alone remained for three summer retreats, retiring only when [Bǎitíng] proclaimed his demise. At age fifty-one, he first appeared in the world [as abbot] at Guānyīn Monastery in Dìnghǎi. For fourteen years, he resided at Yùquán in Xiàngshān. For six years, he was promoted to Tiānzhú Jíqìng Monastery, which was founded by Emperor Lizong at Jiǔlǐsōng and succeeded by Emperor Duzong, who carried on his predecessor's intentions and kept his prior instructions in mind. It happened that the incumbent abbot, Dharma Master Běn, sought to resign; the Sovereign made the sole decision to appoint Cāo'ān to fill the post. The myriad masses were awestruck and submissive. For ten years, the lecture bell and Dharma drum shook the lakes and mountains. Scholars from the four quarters flocked to him like water flowing downward. He established rules and standards, with precedents and regulations. In Siming, at the Southern Lake's Gui, there was the Shìzhōng Monastery, situated among myriad mountains, which was called 'the fine spot of Eastern Wu'. The assembly prevailed upon the Master to preside over it. On the twenty-sixth day of the second month of the renwu year of Zhizheng [1342], he beat the drum to announce to the assembly, brushed the shrine, wrote a verse, threw down his brush, and passed away. His age was eighty-six, and his monastic seniority was seventy-three. His writings include the *Zhǐyào* (Guide to Essentials), *Huìzōng* (Reconciling the School), *Jíyīng* (Collection of Excellences), and other works. His ordination disciple Juéchū Yì returned him to Shànqìng Hermitage in his home mountain, where his entire body was entombed. Those who attained the Dharma under him included Sīlán, Zǐhuá, Sīzhì, and Wéijiǎn of Wu; and Dàdōng, Huìhǎi, Fǎdōng, and others of Ming. Expounding the *Jīnbī* (Golden Scalpel), he wrote the *Bànyuè tōuxián jiěmèng shū* (Explaining Dreams while Stealing Half a Month's Leisure). In addition, his verse on 'Contemplating the Mind and Contemplating the Buddha' contains the lines: 'When spring arrives in the imperial park, it is entirely like brocade; / There is no need to seek out the old flower-seller.' Chan Master Yú of Jìngshān praised it unceasingly.