Nánquán Pǔyuàn
Encyclopedia
Nánquán Pǔyuàn (748–835) was a Chán
(Zen
) Buddhist
master in China
during the Tang Dynasty
. He was the student and Dharma successor of the Master Mǎzŭ Dàoyī
(709-788). In the year 795, after his enlightenment experience under Mǎzŭ, he settled in a self-made hut on Mount Nanquan, from which his dharma name is derived, and lived there in eremitic solitude for three decades. In time, monks persuaded him to come down the mountain and found a monastery; from that time forward, he always had hundreds of students. Nánquán appears in 4 koans in The Gateless Gate
(#14, #19, #27, #34), 6 koans in the Blue Cliff Record
(#28, #31, #40, #63, #64, #69), and 3 koans in The Book of Serenity (#9, #69, #91). Two from the Blue Cliff Record (#28 & #69) depict Nánquán as an advanced student interacting with fellow students of Mǎzŭ, and the others depict him as a teacher in his own right. Nánquán had seventeen Dharma successors, the most famous of whom was Zhàozhōu Cōngshěn
(778-897). Case #19 of the Gateless Gate recounts an interaction between Nánquán and Zhàozhōu that led to the latter having a profound realization; some translators/editors, like Paul Reps
(in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones), interpret this as Zhàozhōu’s enlightenment moment. Another koan involving Nánquán, not appearing in any of aforementioned collections, is as follows:
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
(Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
) Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
master in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. He was the student and Dharma successor of the Master Mǎzŭ Dàoyī
Mazu Daoyi
Mazu Daoyi was a Ch'an Buddhist master in China during the Tang dynasty. In dharma-succession through Nanyue to the Sixth Patriarch, Mazu Daoyi contributed far-reaching insights and changes in teaching methods regarding the transmission of awareness...
(709-788). In the year 795, after his enlightenment experience under Mǎzŭ, he settled in a self-made hut on Mount Nanquan, from which his dharma name is derived, and lived there in eremitic solitude for three decades. In time, monks persuaded him to come down the mountain and found a monastery; from that time forward, he always had hundreds of students. Nánquán appears in 4 koans in The Gateless Gate
The Gateless Gate
The Gateless Gate is a collection of 48 Chan koans compiled in the early 13th century by the Chinese Zen master Wumen Hui-k'ai . Wumen's preface indicates that the volume was published in 1228. Each koan is accompanied by a commentary and verse by Wumen...
(#14, #19, #27, #34), 6 koans in the Blue Cliff Record
Blue Cliff Record
The Blue Cliff Record ; Vietnamese: Bích nham lục ) is a collection of Chán Buddhist koans originally compiled in China during the Song dynasty in 1125 and then expanded into its present form by the Chán master Yuanwu Keqin .The book includes Yuanwu's annotations and commentary on Xuedou...
(#28, #31, #40, #63, #64, #69), and 3 koans in The Book of Serenity (#9, #69, #91). Two from the Blue Cliff Record (#28 & #69) depict Nánquán as an advanced student interacting with fellow students of Mǎzŭ, and the others depict him as a teacher in his own right. Nánquán had seventeen Dharma successors, the most famous of whom was Zhàozhōu Cōngshěn
Zhaozhou Congshen
Zhàozhōu Cōngshěn , was a Chán Buddhist master especially known for his "paradoxical statements and strange deeds".Zhaozhou became ordained as a monk at an early age. At the age of 18, he met Nánquán Pǔyuàn , a successor of Mǎzǔ Dàoyī , and eventually received the Dharma from him...
(778-897). Case #19 of the Gateless Gate recounts an interaction between Nánquán and Zhàozhōu that led to the latter having a profound realization; some translators/editors, like Paul Reps
Paul Reps
Paul Reps was an American artist, poet, and author. He is best known for his unorthodox haiku-inspired poetry that was published from 1939 onwards. He is considered one of America's first haiku poets....
(in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones), interpret this as Zhàozhōu’s enlightenment moment. Another koan involving Nánquán, not appearing in any of aforementioned collections, is as follows:
Monk: “What way leads to Nansen?”
Nansen: (Raising up his farming tool) “I bought this farming tool for 25 cents.”
Monk: “I’m not asking about the farming tool you bought for 25 cents. What way leads to Nansen?”
Nansen: “It feels good when I use it.”