釋鑑稽古略續集 3.22

3.22

太初禪師　諱啟原。號太初。日本國人。九歲禮物外禪師得度。年十九與宗猷等十八眾游參上國。丙午二月進京。見季潭禪師。後見了堂天童無著懶牧等四十五員大善知識。末於傑峯和尚處入室。付頂相大衣拂子法語。後住羅陽三峯寺。及山交龍護禪院。有三會語錄。是年三月一日卓午說偈曰。生也鐵面皮。死也鐵面皮。一椎百雜碎。白日繞鐵圍擲筆坐逝。壽七十五。行化四十餘年。塔院南。

Chan Master Taichu: Taboo name Qiyuan, styled Taichu, was a native of Japan. At age nine, he was ordained under Chan Master Wuwai. At age nineteen, he and eighteen companions, including Zongyou, traveled to the superior country to study. In the bingwu year, in the second month, he entered the capital and met Chan Master Jitan; later he met forty-five great spiritual benefactors, including Liaotang, Tiantong, Wuzhuo, and Lanmu. Finally, he entered the inner chamber under Master Jiefeng, who bestowed upon him a portrait, the great robe, a whisk, and Dharma verses. Later he resided at Sanfeng Monastery in Luoyang and at Longhu Chan Cloister in Shanjiao, leaving behind recorded sayings from three assemblies. In the third month of this year, on the first day at noon, he uttered a gāthā: "In life, an iron face; / In death, an iron face. / One strike breaks it into a hundred pieces; / In bright daylight, circling the Iron Surround." He tossed aside his brush and passed away sitting upright at the age of seventy-five, having taught for over forty years. His stūpa was erected to the south of the cloister.