Rúxiāng 如相, zì Mǐnshù 敏樹 (“Quick Tree”); often referred to as Mǐnshù Rúxiāng 敏樹如相. LínjìYángqí 32nd-generation dharma-heir of Pòshān Hǎimíng 海明 (1597–1666) — one of the most senior of Pòshān’s heirs, founder of the major Mǐnshù 敏樹 sub-line of southwestern LínjìYángqí Buddhism. Born 1603 (estimated); died 康熙壬子十一月初三日亥時 = 1672-12-21, age 70, sēnglà 45 — at Cíyúntáng 慈雲堂 in Sìchuān, with stupa erected to the right of Cíyúnān 慈雲菴. Native of Tóngchuānzhōu Línshuǐ 潼川州鄰水 (Sìchuān); lay surname Wáng 王.
Formation. At 25 took tonsure under Jiàn-kōng 鑑空 in his hometown — set himself the wǔ-yùn jiē-kōng 五蘊皆空 gōng-àn. Then read the Śūraṅgama jīng and felt the chén-láo (defilements) temporarily quiet. Sought out Pò-shān 破山, who gave him the gǒu-zǐ wú fó-xìng 狗子無佛性 gōng-àn. One day on hearing the bell-and-board sound, “his whole body felt like a barrel-hoop suddenly snapping” — Pò-shān sealed him.
Abbacies (seven, across SìchuānHúběiGuìzhōu). Sìchuān Diànjiāngxiàn Bǎizhàng chányuàn 四川墊江縣百丈禪院 (the principal seat); Húguǎng Shīzhōuwèi Wànshòu chánsì 湖廣施州衛萬壽禪寺; Sìchuān Péngshuǐxiàn Tàipíng chánsì 四川彭水縣太平禪寺; Guìzhōu Shíqiānfǔ Sānmèi chányuàn 貴州石阡府三昧禪院; Sìchuān Zūnyìfǔ Hǎilóngshān Gǔlóng chányuàn 四川遵義府海龍山古龍禪院; Wànxiàn Cíyún chányuàn 萬縣慈雲禪院 (returned twice); Guìzhōu Dàxīng chánsì 貴州大興禪寺.
Disciples. Twenty-four fǎsì listed in his yǔlù, including Ěrdú Tài 耳毒泰 (teacher of Huànzhù Míng cf. KR6q0549; teacher of 廣德 cf. KR6q0550); Tiānyǐn Dàochóng 天隱道崇 (compiler of this yǔlù); Chìsōng Dàolǐng 赤松道領 道領 (recorder; subject of KR6q0565); Yǐngxiù Zhēnwù 穎秀真悟 (teacher of 性炅 cf. KR6q0524); Bùyàn Dàolè 不厭道樂 道樂 (cf. KR6q0538 — though more directly transmitted through 聖可德玉); and many others spanning the SìchuānGuìzhōuYúnnán southwestern frontier.
Work. KR6q0564 《敏樹禪師語錄》 10 juan, J39 B450, compiled by fǎsì Tiānyǐn Dàochóng 道崇 biān + recorded by Chìsōng Dàolǐng 道領 lù. Two prefaces dated 康熙戊辰蒲月 = 1688 lunar 5 by 貴陽黔靈山弘福寺 (the principal monastery of Dàolǐng).
Sources. 《錦江禪燈》 vol. 9, vol. 11; 《黔南會燈錄》 vol. 1; 《五燈全書》 vol. 70, 87, 88; 《正源略集目錄》 vol. 1.