Chāoyuán 超原 (also written Chāoyuán 超原 — note the catalog-form variant for the same person also appearing as preface-author for several other Sì-chuān-related yǔlù in J38–J39, signed 莆陽 / 龍池後裔閩莆 Dànyá; cf. 超源 for the homophonic 超源 entries). zì Dànyá 澹崖 (“Bland Cliff”); often referred to as Tōngtiān Dànyá 通天澹崖. LínjìYángqí dharma-heir of Tōngtiān Yìsǒu Xínggāo 行高 (1616–1669). Born 明崇禎庚午十一月十一日 = 1630-12-14 Gregorian; died 康熙戊寅四月十八日丑時 = 1698-05-27, age 69, sēnglà 36. Native of Xīnghuà Pútián 興化莆田 (Fújiàn); lay surname Zhāng 張.
Formation. As a youth studied Confucian texts. One day reading the Diamond Sūtra at the line “yīqiè yǒuwéi fǎ rú mèng huàn pào yǐng” (一切有為法 如夢幻泡影) felt the urge to leave the world. After 33 went to Huángbòshān 黃檗山 to Xūbái 虛白和尚 to take tonsure and full ordination; given the Bǎishùzǐ 柏樹子 gōngàn. One day before the main hall, looking at an old pine, the obstruction in his chest fell away. Sought out Yìsǒu; received final fùfǎ on 康熙己酉正月元日 = 1669-02-01.
Abbacy. Púyáng Tōngtiān chánsì 蒲陽通天禪寺 (succeeded his teacher) for one year; then retired to travel Lúshān 廬嶽 and Jīnlíng 金陵 sites.
Disciples. Thirteen fǎsì including Xiùyuán Pǔ 秀源溥, Guàntōng Zhào 貫通照, Jùnfēng Dé 峻峰德, Huáfēng Róng 華峰容, Xuězhū Yíng 雪珠瑩.
Works.
- Xínglüè author of his teacher’s yǔlù KR6q0569 《通天逸叟高禪師語錄》.
- Own yǔlù KR6q0570 《通天澹崖原禪師語錄》 2 juan, J39 B456, compiled by fǎsūn Míngdé 明德 děng biān.
- Author of preface to the Biéān chánshī tóngmén lù 別菴禪師同門錄.
Sources. 《通天澹崖原禪師語錄》 vol. 2 〈行實〉, 〈聯芳偈〉.
There is a separate 17th-century Mǐnpǔ Lóngchí line Chāoyuán 超源/超原 Dànyá who wrote prefaces to KR6q0554, KR6q0557, and KR6q0559 in 1695–1696 — see 超源 for the cross-reference. The two are easily conflated since they share the Dànyá sobriquet, but the dating of the dual yǔlù of 行高 (d. 1669) and 超原 (d. 1698) makes this Tōngtiān Chāoyuán’s authorship of those Sì-chuān-related prefaces in 1695–1696 plausible.