Huihong

Life

At fourteen, after both parents died, he entered the religious life as a novice under 三峰靚禪師; at nineteen he passed the scripture examination at Tianwang Temple in Dongjing, was ordained under Huihong’s registered name, and studied the Weishi (唯識) treatise with 宣祕律師. After returning south, he followed Zhenjing (真淨) at Guizong Temple on Mount Lu, moved with him to Shimen in Hongzhou, and studied the teachings of mind for seven years, becoming Kewen’s (克文) Dharma heir.

He mastered the essentials of Weishi thought, read widely in histories and classical texts, and became known for poetry. During the Chongning era he associated with Chen Guan, Zhang Shangying, and Huang Tingjian, presided over Beichan Temple in Linchuan, and later moved to Qingliang Temple in Jinling; through medicine he came to know Zhang Shangying and moved in Guo Tianxin’s circle. After a case concerning his assumed ordination identity, he spent a year in the imperial prison and was ordered to return to lay life; Zhang Shangying and Guo Tianxin petitioned on his behalf, after which he was ordained again, renamed Dehong, and granted the title Baojue Yuanming Chanshi, while styling himself Jiyin Zunzhe.

In the tenth month of the first year of Zhenghe (1111), Zhang Shangying and Guo Tianxin were dismissed, and Huihong was implicated through his association with them: his monastic status was stripped and he was exiled to Zhuyajun on Hainan. He was pardoned and returned in 1113. In 1114 he went back to Junzhou and stayed at Hetang Temple; the following year he was again held in a Bingzhou prison, and, after his release, spent four years in lay dress around Jiufeng and Dongshan, occupying himself with writing. He was later accused of belonging to Zhang Huaisu’s faction, held in Nanchang prison for more than one hundred days, and pardoned; he then lived at Nantái in Xiangzhong, naming his residence Mingbai An and composing its inscription. During the Jingkang era he was permitted to restore his monastic status and former name. He died in the fifth month of the second year of Jianyan (1128), aged fifty-eight. His disciples built a stupa on Fengqi Mountain.

Scholarship and writings

Huihong was learned and had a powerful memory; he mastered Weishi thought and studied Chan mind teachings. He was skilled in poetry and calligraphy, painted well, and was especially accomplished at depicting plum and bamboo; he also maintained extensive contacts with prominent scholar-officials, and his poetic reputation was the strongest among Northern Song monks. His life was marked by a fondness for visiting the residences of high officials and by lax observance of monastic discipline.

His writings include 《法華經合論》, 《楞嚴經合論》, 《臨濟宗旨》, 《智證傳》, 《禪林僧寶傳》, 《林間錄》, 《石門文字禪》, 《冷齋夜話》, and 《天廚禁臠》. The transmitted catalogue assigns two juan to 《林間錄》, thirty to 《僧寶傳》, twelve to 《高僧傳》, ten to 《智證傳》, ten to 《志林》, ten to 《冷齋夜話》, thirty to 《石門文字禪》, one fascicle to 《語錄偈頌》, seven juan to 《法華合論》, ten to 《楞嚴尊頂義》, two to 《圓覺皆證義》, one to 《金剛法源論》, and two to 《起信論解義》; 《石門題跋》 is in two juan, and 《林問錄》 in two juan with a one-juan sequel.