Of the Yao clan of Cixi, Siming — a leading family. He worked at Confucian studies from nine and was writing well at thirteen. At eighteen an illness taught him the body is a cangue, and he began testing himself against Dahui's recorded sayings; the phrase about Mt. Sumeru gave him his first opening. He then went round Yunmen, Zhenji, Longmen, Li'an and Yufeng as a LAYMAN, and at Jinsu took a beating from Miyun Yuanwu, who named him Sheng. Only in 1644, when the dynasty fell and his mother died, did he shave his head; he then climbed Jingshan to Feiyin Tongrong, who 'undid the jewel in his topknot and gave it to him.' He was installed at Xianjing (1655), Housheng at Hou-shan (1657), and finally at West Lake. He died at the hour of wei on the 6th of the 5th month of 1668, aged 70, with 24 years in robes; his disciples built his stupa on the north face of Leifeng. Four dharma heirs and one nun.
References: DILA Authority A000411
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