Guishan Lingyou

Guishan Lingyou [alt. Weishan Lingyou] (J. Isan Reiyū; K. Wisan Yŏngu 潙山靈祐) (771–853). A Chinese Chan master and cofounder of the Guiyang zong (aka. Weishan zong) branch of the Chan tradition.

Guishan was one of the most prominent disciples of the Chan master Baizhang Huaihai (720–814). Guishan's disciples included Yangshan Huiji (807–883).

The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism states:

One of the two founders of the Weiyang school 潙仰宗 of Chan, posthumously named Dayuan Dashi 大圓禪師. He received the name Weishan Lingyou 潙山靈祐 from this major place of residence. Originally from Fuzhou 福州 (present-day Fujian 福建), He entered the saṃgha first at the age of fifteen at Jianshan Temple 建善寺, and later studied the sutras and Vinaya at Longxing Temple 龍興寺 in Hangzhou. At the age of twenty-three he went to Jiangxi, where he studied under Baizhang Huaihai 百丈懷海, and excelled and became a transmitter of Baizhangʼs dharma.

Around 820, he took up residence at Mt. Dagui 大潙 in Tanzhou, where he taught with a distinctive style. He was respected by the government minister Pei Xiu 裴休. Among his disciples were Yangshan Huiji 仰山慧寂 and Xingyan Zhixian 香嚴智閑. The style of Chan teaching and practice established primarily by him and his student Yangshan would later become known as Weishan Chan 潙仰宗, counted as one of the 'five houses and seven schools' 五家七宗 of China. This 'school' flourished during the five dynasties period, but faded during the Song. 〔萬松老人評唱天童覺和尙頌古從容庵錄 T 2004.48.280b25〕 [Charles Muller; source(s): Kamata]

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• 潙山靈祐, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (to sign in, see DDB sign-in)