Zhōngfēng Míngběn 中峰明本 (1263–1323), one of the most influential Yuán-dynasty Chán masters and the key figure for the early-14th-century Línjì 臨濟 Yángqí-branch 楊岐派 revival. Hào Zhōngfēng 中峰 (“Central Peak”), also Huànzhù dàorén 幻住道人 (“Illusory-Dwelling Way-Man”) or Huànzhù lǎorén 幻住老人. Posthumous titles: shì Pǔyìng guóshī 普應國師 (“National Master of Universal Response”), Fócí Yuánzhào Guǎnghuì chánshī 佛慈圓照廣慧禪師, and Zhìjué chánshī 智覺禪師; honorific epithet Jiāngnán gǔ fó 江南古佛 (“Old Buddha of Jiāngnán”). Native of Qiántáng 錢塘 (Hángzhōu), lay surname Sūn 孫.
Born Zhìyuán 1.1.8 (8 January 1263). Entered monastic life in youth at Tiānmù shān 天目山; received dharma-transmission from Gāofēng Yuánmiào 高峰原妙 (1238–1295) as his principal dharma-heir, subsequently becoming the principal bearer of the GāofēngYuánmiào line of the LínjìYángqí lineage into the early Yuán. Held multiple hermitage-residencies around Tiānmù shān, famously refusing the major institutional abbacies when they were offered. The Huànzhùān 幻住庵 (“Illusory-Dwelling Hermitage”) on Tiānmù shān became his principal residence from the late 1290s onward.
Authored an extensive corpus of Chán writings, including:
- Huànzhùān qīng guī 幻住庵清規 (KR6q0139, X63 n1248, 1 juan, Yánhòu 4 = 1317) — hermitage-level monastic code;
- Extensive yǔlù material preserved in the Tiānmù Zhōngfēng héshàng guǎnglù 天目中峰和尚廣錄 (30 juan);
- Various pedagogical-verse and letter compositions.
Died on Zhìyuán 3.8.14 (22 September 1323), aged 61.
Míngběn’s principal dharma-heirs carried the LínjìYángqí lineage into the later Yuán and early Ming periods; the lineage-line reaching from Gāofēng → Míngběn → Míngběn’s disciples → successors forward is the principal Chinese LínjìYángqí genealogy through the Yuán-Ming transition.
Míngběn’s influence in Japan was extensive: several Japanese monks studied under him at Tiānmù shān in the 1310s and 1320s, and the Huànzhùān qīng guī and Míngběn’s yǔlù material circulated widely in Muromachi-period Rinzai monastic culture.
Works in the Kanripo corpus: KR6q0139 Huànzhùān qīng guī, and KR6q0335 Tiānmù Míngběn chánshī zálù (3 juan, miscellaneous teaching compilation parallel to the 30-juan guǎnglù).
Per DILA A000655: birth 1263 (Zhìyuán 1.1.8 Gregorian); death 1323 (Zhìyuán 3.8.14 = 22 September 1323); lay surname Sūn; native of Qiántáng (Hángzhōu). LínjìYángqí lineage.