Shiwu (石屋, Wade–Giles: Shih2-Wu1, Pinyin: Shíwū) orStonehouse (1272–1352) was a ChineseChanpoet andhermit who lived during theYuan Dynasty. Shiwu was born in the town ofChangshu, taking his name from the Shihwutung (Stonehouse cave) inYushan. In 1292 Shiwu became a novice at Yushan'sHsingfu temple, a major monastic center at the time. He studied under master Yung-Wei and three years later was ordained and received thedharma name Ch'ing-hung.[1]
He is said to have followed a monk to the Tianmu Mountains to meet with Chan master Kao-Feng. On his arrival Kao-feng asked why he came to his hermitage, to which Shiwu answered, "I've come for theDharma".
Kao-feng said, "The Dharma isn't so easy to find. You've got to burn your fingers for incense".
Shiwu replied, "But I see the Master before me with my own eyes. How could the Dharma be hidden?".
Kao-feng took him as his pupil and gave him thekoan "All things return to one" for study.[2]
After three years with little progress, Shiwu decided to leave and Kao-feng recommended he study under the Chan master Chi-an. Shiwu crossed theYangtze and met Chi-an at West Peak Temple near Chienyang.
Chi-an asked Shiwu what teaching he had received.
Shiwu said, "All things return to one".
Chi-an asked what it meant and Shiwu remained silent.
Chi-an said "Those words are dead. Where did you pick up such rot?".
Shiwu bowed and asked for instruction.
Chi-an then gave him another koan: "Where buddhas dwell, don't stop. Where buddhas don't dwell, hurry past".
Shiwu said he didn't understand but decided to stay with Chi-an.[3]
One day, Chi-an asked once more about the koan and Shiwu answered, "When you mount the horse, you see the road".
Chi-an admonished him once again.
Shiwu left but on his way down the mountain he saw apavilion and had a sudden insight. He turned back and told Chi-an, "Where buddhas dwell, don't stop. Those are dead words. Where buddhas don't dwell, hurry past. Those are dead words too. Now I understand living words".
Chi-an asked him what he understood and Shiwu answered, "When the rain finally stops in late spring, the oriole appears on a branch"[4]
Chi-an later served as abbot of the Taochang temple and Shiwu joined him. Shiwu also served as a meditation teacher inLingyin temple.
In 1312 at the age of forty he moved to Xiamu Mountain near Huzhou to live as a hermit and it is here that he composed his "Mountain Poems" (Shan-shih), one-hundred and eighty-four verses mostly dealing with life in the mountains. In the preface to the Mountain poems, Shiwu writes:
Here in the woods I have lots of free time. When I don't spend it sleeping, I enjoy composing gathas. But with paper and ink so scarce, I haven't thought of writing them down. Now some Zen monks have asked me to record what I find of interest on this mountain. I've sat here quietly and let my brush fly. Suddenly, this volume is full. I close it and sent it back down with the admonition not to try singing these poems. Only if you sit on them will they do you any good.[5]
The opening poem of the Shan-Shi describes the natural setting of his hermitage:
Many of his poems deal with the mundane facets of everyday hermit life.
Some of the poems also focus on Zen Buddhist philosophical ideals likeimpermanence andnon-attachment.
American translatorRed Pine traveled to theZhongnan Mountains and translated Shiwu's poems into English.
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