Wansong was born into theCai family from Jie county in Hezhong (modernYuncheng inShanxi).[1] At the age of fifteen he went toXingzhou (modernXingtai in Hebei) where he became a monk, taking the religious name Xingxiu. He then travelled to Cizhou (modernCi County) to study under Chan Master Xueyan Huiman (雪岩慧滿禪師) (1136–1206). Later he returned to Xingzhou where he lived in the Wansong ("ten thousand pines") Studio, and called himself the "Old Man of Ten Thousand Pines" (Wansong Laoren萬松老人).[1][2]
In 1193, Wansong came to the attention ofEmperor Zhangzong of Jin (reigned 1189–1208), who invited him to court in order to expound Buddhist teaching.[1] Impressed by his knowledge the emperor presented Wansong with a brocade monk's robe, and asked him to move to the central capitalZhongdu (modernBeijing). In 1197, Wansong moved to Bao'en Temple (寶恩寺) to the west of the central capital, where he resided in the Congrong hermitage (從容庵).[1][3]
In 1215, the Jin capital of Zhongdu was sacked by the Mongols, and the Jin capital was relocated toKaifeng. However, Wansong remained at Bao'en Temple, outside the city now renamed Yanjing. In 1223, theKhitan statesmanYelü Chucai (1190–1244), who had surrendered to the Mongols in 1218, visited Wansong to receive Buddhist instruction from him, and thereafter he frequently visited Wansong to ask his advice.[3]
In 1230, Wansong was made abbot of Wanshou Temple (萬壽寺) in Yanjjing.[1]
Wansong died at the age of 81. Just before his death he composed agatha: "Eighty-one years old, only this one saying; cherish and value all people, and never make a false move" (八十一年，只此一語，珍重諸人，且莫錯舉). He was succeeded as master of Bao'en Temple by Linquan Conglun (林泉從倫).[4]
Wansong wrote two important commentaries onkōan compiled byHongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157). In 1224, at the urging of Yelü Chucai, he published a commentary to a collection of one hundredsonggu (頌古)kōan by Hongzhi under the titleCongrong Lu (從容錄), known in English as theBook of Equanimity or theEncouragement (Hermitage) Record. Wansong's commentary edition ensured the survival of Hongzhi'skōan, and came to be regarded as one of the seminal texts of theCaodong school. Wansong also wrote a commentary on Hongzhi'sniangu (拈古)kōan, entitledQingyi Lu (請益錄), known in English asRecord of Seeking Additional Instruction.[5] He also wrote a collection of sayings entitledWanshou Yulu (萬壽語錄), with a preface dated 1235.
After the death of Wansong, his disciples built an octagonal seven-storeyed brick pagoda, 5 metres (16 ft) in height, in Yanjing (modern Beijing) to house his remains.[6] In 1753, during the reign of theQianlong Emperor of theQing dynasty, a new nine-storeyed brick pagoda, 15.9 metres (52 ft) in height, was built around the original pagoda, and it was not until 1986 that the original Yuan dynasty pagoda was rediscovered to be still intact inside the later pagoda.[7][8][9]
The pagoda now stands near theXisi intersection in theXicheng District of Beijing, next toBrick Pagoda Hutong. Until 2010 the pagoda was largely hidden by shops and residential buildings, but after redevelopment of the area for the construction ofXisi Underground Station and restoration of the pagoda it is now open to the public.[8]
^abcdeYang, Ne (1986). "Xingxiu"中国历史大辞典：辽夏金元史. In Cai, Meibiao (ed.).Zhongguo Lishi Dacidian: Liao, Xia, Jin, Yuan Shi (in Chinese). Shanghai cishu chubanshe. pp. 158–159.
^Zhao, George Qingzhi; Qiao, Stephen (2010).Leaves of enchantment, bones of inspiration. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. p. 10.
^abBuswell Jr., Robert E.; Lopez Jr., Donald S. (2013).The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 197.ISBN9781400848058.
^Schlütter, Morten (2004). "TheRecord of Hongzhi and the Recorded Sayings Literature if Song-Dynasty Chan". In Heine, Steven; Wright, Dale S. (eds.).The Zen Canon : Understanding the Classic Texts. Oxford University Press. p. 191.ISBN9780198034339.
^中华人民共和国地名词典: 北京市 [Geographical Dictionary of the People's Republic of China: Beijing Municipality] (in Chinese). Commercial Press. 1987. p. 389.
^Fu, Gongyue (1997).Historical photos of old Beijing. Beijing Press. p. 107.
^abPillsbury, Adam (2008).Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008. Beijing: True Run Media. p. 246.
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