Zhikong Chanxian
Zhikong Chanxian (J. Shikū Zenken; K. Chigong Sŏnhyŏn; S. *Śūnyadiśya-Dhyānabhadra 指空禪賢) (1289–1363).[1] An Indian meditation master who traveled to East Asia, and taught first in China, and then in Korea, where he had a strong influence on Korean Seon.[1][2]
He was born in the Magadha region of north-eastern India and became a monk at an early age. He is said to have studied at the famous Nalanda monastic university.[1]
Around 1324, he traveled via Tibet to Yuan dynasty-China and then went on to Goryeo in 1326 at the invitation of King Ch’ungsuk (1294–1339), whom he had met at the Mongol court in Beijing. During his stay in Goryeo, Zhikong founded Hoeamsa (Fir Tree Cliff Monastery) in 1328, which is said to have been modeled after Nālandā monastery.[1]
He returned to Yuan China in 1328, where he was visited by many Korean students, including Naong Hyegeun (1320–1376) and Muhak Chach'o (1327–1405), on whom he had great influence. He died in 1363, and because of the reverence in which he was held by King Kongmin (r. 1351–1374), some of his relics were sent to Goryeo.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Buswell & Lopez 2014, s.v. Zhikong Chanxian.
- ↑
指空, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (to sign in, see DDB sign-in)
Sources
Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University
