Why the Japanese Emperor Go-Momozono 后桃園天皇 gave Yinyuan the title "First Disciple of Master Jingshan" “徑山首出”

Inscription by Song Emperor Xiaozong 孝宗, photo by Jiang Wu

Rebuilt Buddha Hall, photo by Jiang Wu 

Yinyuan has several honorific titles from Japanese emperors. One of them is "First Disciple of Master Jingshan" “徑山首出” given by Emperor Go-Momozono 后桃園天皇 in 1772. Many people don't know why Jingshan Temple appeared in this title because Yinyuan was not close related to the monastery. This is because Yinyuan's teacher Feiyin Tongrong 費隱通容 had been the abbot of Jingshan Temple from 1650 to 1651 and Yinyuan was the first dharma heir of Feiyin.  

Jingshan Temple has a fantastic reputation as the center of Zen Buddhism in East Asia. It was also famous for tea cultivation. One of the reasons was that Dahui Zonggao 大慧宗杲 was abbot of Jingshan during the Southern Song dynasty. Because of the Jingshan Canon conference, I had the opportunity to visit the temple in May 10, 2015.

Dahui Zonggao Stupa inscription, photo by Jiang Wu