A Preliminary Research On The Thought Of Ch’an Master Xueyan Zuqin

Xueyan Zuqin, a famous Ch’an Master lived in late Song and early Yuan Dynasty. In Chinese Ch’an Buddhism history, Zuqin learned from Wuzhun Shifan, and cultivated Gaofeng Yuanmiao. In the method of Ch’anism, he was accomplished in the method both Linji sect and Caodong sect, his advanced Ch’anism attracted numerous disciples. For the Ch’an Buddhism at that time, especially for the development of Linji zong,Zuqin served as a link between past and future. However, little scholars researched him and his Ch’anism, which is opposed to his special historical position.In fact, Zuqin not only mixed together the method of Kanhua-Ch’anism and Mozhao-Ch’anism, inherited and expanded the Kanhua-Ch’anism of Dahui zonggao; but had an open and catholic attitude about the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism, emphasizing Confucianism had protective effect on Buddhism.By this paper, the author expects to highlight Zuqin’s significant effects on the development of Chinese Ch’an Buddhism, and cover the past shortages about his Ch’anism.