Zhanran

Zhanran

Zhanran(Chinese:Trạm nhiên;pinyin:Zhànrán;Wade–Giles:Chan-jan;711-782), sometimes calledMiao-lo(orMiaole) was the sixth patriarch of theTiantaischool ofChinese Buddhismand helped to revive the school's proéminence after a period of decline.His lay surname was Qi thích and he was also known as Jingqi kinh khê after his birthplace (in modern-dayYixingNghi hưng county,Jiangsuprovince). Early in his monastic training, traditional biographies stated that he thoroughly studied theVinaya in Four Partsbefore being ordained by precepts master T'an-i ( đàm nhất, 692-771).

As head of the Tiantai order, Zhanran spent much time and energy writing commentaries on the works ofZhiyi,and writing defenses of the Tiantai school against the newerFaxiangandHuayanschools.Zhanran is best known for his scriptural exegesis of such works asZhiyi'sMohe Zhiguan(The Great Calming and Contemplation), as well as his promotion of the doctrine of universalBuddha-nature.He is the author ofThe Adamantine Scalpel( kim cương 錍Jin'gang Pi) among other works.

Bibliography

• Buswell, Robert E., ed. (2014).The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism.Princeton University Press. pp. 391–392.ISBN9781400848058.
• Chen, Shuman (2011).Chinese Tiantai Doctrine on Insentient Things’ Buddha-Nature,Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal 24, 71-104
• Pap, Melinda (2011).Demonstration of the Buddha-nature of the Insentient in Zhanran's The Diamond Scalpel Treatise.Doctoral Dissertation, Budapest: Eötvös Loránd University
• Tseng, Chih-Mien, Adrian (2014).A Comparison of the Concepts of Buddha-Nature and Dao-Nature in Medieval China,PhD Thesis, Hamilton, Ontario: McMaster University

External links

• Short biography in Chinese
• Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest" )