Born 1595 in Hezhou, Chongqing prefecture, Sichuan, of the Cai clan; his mother was of the Yu clan. As an infant he would retch at the smell of chicken and refuse unclean food; a physiognomist warned that he should not marry, and at ten he was sent to Jinzhong monastery in his own village and given to his uncle Daoran. He went south at seventeen (or nineteen) and spent fourteen years in the lecture-halls. In 1627 he settled at Danghu, expounded the Surangama, and sealed himself in to read the canon — but within six months nearly died of dysentery, and realising that 'a lifetime of learning is not the final matter' resolved to break out and find a teacher. A friend sent him MIYUN YUANWU'S RECORDED SAYINGS; reading the verse 'before a single thought arises — look at what it is like,' doubt seized him and he forgot food and sleep. Two more years brought nothing. Then, walking absently, HE MISSED HIS FOOTING AND FELL FROM A TOWER — and in the instant of falling, 'as one wakes from a dream,' he understood. He trained under Miyun at Tiantong and became his heir; he was abbot of Tongxuan, Qizhen and finally TIANTONG. He died in 1652, aged 58.
References: DILA Authority A012053
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