釋氏稽古略 3.348

3.348

Chan Master Xuefeng of Fuzhou was named Yicun, a son of the Zeng family of Nan'an in Quanzhou. At the age of twelve, he left home under Vinaya Master Qingxuan of Yujian Monastery in Putian. At the age of seventeen, he shaved his head and went to Baosha Monastery in Youzhou to receive the precepts. He traveled extensively among Chan assemblies, visiting Touzi three times and Dongshan nine times. Later, he formed a karmic bond of accord with Deshan. During the Xiantong era of Emperor Yizong of Tang, he returned to Xuefeng in Min and founded a monastery, where students gathered in great numbers. Emperor Xizong bestowed upon him the title Chan Master Zhenjue, and furthermore bestowed a purple robe. The Master's assembly of Dharma followers regularly numbered fifteen hundred. Down to this time, in the third month of the second year of Kaiping, he showed illness. The military governor of Min ordered a physician to come, but the Master said, "I have no illness." After imparting a farewell verse and handing down the Dharma, on the second day of the fifth month he went out traveling to Liantian and returned in the evening. He bathed and entered quiescence at midnight, at the age of eighty-seven. The Master was the dharma heir of Deshan Jian; Jian was the heir of Longtan Xin.