Linji Yixuan臨濟義玄

d. 866 or 867LinjiAlso: Rinzai Gigen

Died: d. 866 or 867
Teacher: Huangbo Xiyun (transmission)
Dharma heir: Guanxi Zhixian
School: Linji

Founder of the Linji house, known in Japan as Rinzai. His teaching is recorded in the Linji lu.

Writings and records

1120Classical Chineserecorded sayingsTaishō T.1985

Talks and exchanges of the founder of the Linji house, compiled by his student Huiran, in the edition with Ma Fang’s preface of 1120.

Related people

Huangbo Xiyun黃檗希運

d. between 847 and 860Linji

Guanxi Zhixian灌溪志閑

d. 895Linji

Stories

Moshan and Zhixian

encounter

Zhixian, a student of Linji, came to Moshan intending to test the nun who taught there, and if she was no good, to overturn her seat. The nun, Moshan Liaoran, sent an attendant to ask whether he had come to look at the mountain or for the dharma. For the dharma, he said. She took the high seat and he came up.

Sources

Daoyuan (comp.), Jingde chuandeng lu 景德傳燈錄 (1004), Taishō T.2076 · link
Li Zunxu 李遵勗 (comp.), Tiansheng guangdeng lu 天聖廣燈錄 (1036), Zokuzōkyō X.1553 · link
Huiran 慧然 (comp.), Linji lu 臨濟錄 (Record of Linji) (1120), Taishō T.1985 · link
Zhipan 志磐, Fozu tongji 佛祖統紀 (Comprehensive Record of the Buddhas and Patriarchs) (1269), Taishō T.2035 · link
Charles Muller (ed.), Digital Dictionary of Buddhism · link
Andy Ferguson, Zen’s Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (2011)

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