Ming · by 通容述
10,128 · about 34 min
The "Essential Guidelines for the Two Ranks in the Monastery" (Conglin Liangxu Xuzhi), authored by the eminent late-Ming dynasty monk Feiyin Tongrong, is a significant text in the system of Chan monastic institutions within Chinese Buddhism. This work systematically standardizes the duties, codes of conduct, and detailed regulations for the daily administration of the two ranks of monastic officers (the East and West ranks) within Chan monasteries, reflecting the mature organizational structure of Chan monastic communities during the Ming dynasty. It not only provided practical operational guidance for Chan communities of its time but also exerted a profound influence on later Buddhist monastic management and Sangha development. It remains an important classic for the study of Chinese Buddhist institutional history and Chan monastic regulations.