Biographies of Eminent Monks from Chan Monasteries of the Southern Song, (南宋元明禪林僧寶傳)

About 南宋元明禪林僧寶傳

Qing · by 自融撰　性磊補輯

97,600 · about 325 min

The *Biographies of Sangha Treasures from Chan Monasteries of the Southern Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties* is a significant historical and biographical work of the Chan school, composed by the Linji monk Zirong in the early Qing dynasty and later supplemented and edited by his disciple Xinglei. Compiled in the early Qing period, this text contains biographies of over five hundred eminent monks of virtue and accomplishment from Chan monastic communities spanning over four hundred years, from the Southern Song through the end of the Ming dynasty. Its content is detailed and substantial, recording not only the life events and recorded dialogues of Chan masters but also reflecting the developmental context and distinctive characteristics of Chan school traditions during the Song and Ming periods. This collection is an indispensable and precious document for the study of Chan history from the Southern Song to the late Ming. Alongside works such as the *Jingde Era Record of the Transmission of the Lamp*, it stands as a key classic among Chan historical and biographical texts, holding extremely high value as a historical source for understanding the transmission and evolution of the Chan school during this era.