Xìngcōng 性聰, zì Hānpú 憨璞 (“Foolish Plain”); often referred to as Hānpú Xìngcōng 憨璞性聰. Imperially-titled Míngjué chánshī 明覺禪師 by the Shùnzhì emperor in 1657. LínjìYángqí dharma-heir of Bǎichī Xíngyuán 百癡行元 (1611–1662) — the same teacher of 素 Liánfēng Sù (KR6q0530) and 德風 Défēng (KR6q0531). Born 1611; died 康熙丙午臘月十三日 = 1667-01-07, age 57, sēnglà 39. Native of Yánpíngfǔ Shàowǔ 邵武 (Fújiàn); lay surname Lián 連.
Formation. At 15 took tonsure at Tiānwángsì 天王寺. At 25 took full ordination at Nánhǎi Pǔtuó 南海普陀. Studied with Yǒngjué Xián 永覺賢 (Cáodòng) at Wǔlín Píngyáo 武林瓶窑, given the wànfǎ guī yī gōngàn. Continued with Dōngshān Ěrmì Fú 東山爾密澓 — sudden insight. Then Tiāntāi Tōngxuán Qí 通玄奇 and finally Bǎichī Yuán 百癡元 for fùfǎ.
Imperial preceptorship and abbacies. 順治十四年丁酉秋 = 1657 autumn invited by Shùnzhì emperor to Wànshàndiàn 萬善殿 (within the Forbidden City) for the summer-retreat — the major imperial-Buddhist event of the era. 己亥冬 = 1659 winter ordered to do retreat at Mǐnzhōngsì 愍忠禪寺 (Beijing’s principal precept-platform). 庚子秋 = 1660 autumn requested to return south; granted by imperial decree on lunar 8月. Held abbacies at Hángzhōu Guānyīnsì 杭州觀音寺, Yúháng Fǎxǐsì 餘杭法喜寺, Qiántáng Guǎngfúyuàn 錢塘廣福院, Shùntiān Hǎihuìsì 順天海會寺, Shùntiān Yánshòusì 順天延壽寺, Shàowǔ Ānguósì 邵武安國寺, Shùntiān Mǐnzhōngsì 順天愍忠禪寺.
Disciples. Shàowǔ Ānguó Kāilián Shòu 邵武安國開蓮受 and Pánshān Gānquán Yǔshí Dé 盤山甘泉語石德.
Work. KR6q0609 《明覺聰禪師語錄》 20 juan (DILA: 16 juan), Qiánlóng-canon No. 1652, compiled by fǎsì Jìkōng 寂空 and Pǔyuè Fāngxǐng 方醒 děng biān. Includes imperial chìshū 敕書, xièēn biǎo 謝恩表, and jìn Wǔdēng biǎo 進五燈表 — i.e. the Wǔdēng quánshū presentation memorial.
Sources. 《五燈全書》 vol. 89, vol. 106; 《佛光大辭典》 p. 3242.