Zangsou Shanzhen 藏叟善珍

1194–1277 | Teacher: Miaofeng Zhishan 妙峰之善 (靈隱妙峰之善) | Students: Yuansou Xingduan

Southern Song Linji master, abbot of Jingshan 徑山. Dharma name 善珍, style 藏叟; son of the 呂 family of Nan'an in Quanzhou. Tonsured at thirteen under 崇福南和尚 (a TONSURE master, not his dharma-father); at sixteen he travelled to Hangzhou and took the full precepts. He then 'called on Miaofeng Shan at Lingyin, entered his chamber and awakened to the purport' (謁妙峯善公于靈隱,入室悟旨) — 妙峰之善 being the heir of 佛照德光 (1121-1203). He came out at 光孝 in his home district, rose to 承天, moved to 思溪圓覺 in Anji and 雪峰 in Fujian, and by imperial command to 育王 in Siming and finally 徑山 at Lin'an — six great monasteries. 補續高僧傳 closes his life with the decisive sentence: of all his many students, 「入室得髓者,唯元叟端公一人而已」 — the only one who entered the chamber and got the marrow was Yuansou Duan. His stupa is at 南塔院. NOTE: the roster's ascription of 元叟行端 to 高峰原妙 is contradicted by every source consulted.

View interactive profile →