Ming · by 德清述 高承埏補
48,970 · about 163 min
Biographies and Eulogies of the Eighty-Eight Patriarchs was initially compiled by the eminent Ming Dynasty monk Deqing (Master Hanshan) and later supplemented by Gao Chengyan. It is an important collection of biographies of Buddhist patriarchs. This work records the life stories and eulogies of eighty-eight Chan patriarchs, covering the lineage from the First Patriarch Mahākāśyapa to the patriarchs of various Chinese Chan schools. With profound Buddhist learning and literary accomplishment, Deqing vividly narrates the conduct and the essence of the Chan teachings of the patriarchs, while Gao Chengyan’s supplements further refined the content. Completed during the Buddhist revival of the late Ming period, this book reflects the emphasis placed on patriarchal lineage within Chan at that time. It serves as a significant document for the study of Chinese Chan history and patriarch veneration, holding a pivotal position in Buddhist history that connects past and future, providing authoritative reference for later generations to understand the Dharma lineage of Chan.