Jìngyíng 淨瑩, zì Yuánjié 元潔 (“Original Pure”), biéhào Mùtáng 睦堂 (after Chén Púxié 陳蒲鞋, the figure he admired). Cáodòng-school dharma-heir of Ruìbái Míngxuě 瑞白明雪 — one of the major mid-17th-century Cáodòng masters. Born 明萬曆壬子三月十七子時 = 1612-04-17 Gregorian; died 康熙壬子閏七月廿四丑時 = 1672-08-16, age 61, sēnglà 40+. Native of Wéiyáng Jiāngdū 維揚江都; lay surname Zhuāng 莊 (father Jìfāng 繼芳, mother née Shī 施).
Formation. At 20 secretly went to Jīnlíng Zhōngshān 金陵鐘山 to take tonsure under elder Tuōbái 脫白, who set him to niànfó, zhòuchí (mantra), and shùxī (counting breaths) — practiced both day and night. The next year sought out Biànshān Ruì 弁山瑞和尚 (= Ruìbái Míngxuě) at Hángzhōu Bàoēnyuàn 杭州報恩院. At 23 followed Ruìbái to Tiāntāi Hùguó 天台護國 for full ordination.
Eight abbacies (across the central-eastern arc). Opened fǎ at Púqí Yánshòusì 蒲圻延壽寺 in 順治十一年五月 = 1654 lunar 5. Then Yùyáshān Shàngfāng chányuàn 玉崖山上方禪院; Hóngdū Níngzhōu Gǔdòngshān Ēnòu chánsì 洪都寧州古洞山阿耨禪寺; Húzhōu Biànshān Lónghuá chánsì 浙江湖州弁山龍華禪寺; Guǎnglíng Píngshān Qīlíng chánsì 廣陵平山棲靈禪寺; Jiāngxī Níngzhōu Yúnyán Wúzhù chánsì 江西寧州雲巖無住禪寺; Lǐzhōu Yàoshān Cíyún chánsì 澧州藥山慈雲禪寺; Yuèzhōu Yúnmén Xiǎnshèng chánsì 越州雲門顯聖禪寺; Tāizhōu Tiāntāi Hùguó chánsì 台州天台護國禪寺.
Death. “Dropped his auspicious-form” (jíxiáng ér shì) on the 24th of leap-7th-month, 1672. Disciples carried his coffin west to Yúnyán 雲巖 in spring 1673, building a stupa at Fèngshān 鳳山 within the temple grounds. Two years later relocated to Gǔdòngshān Ēnòu 古洞山阿耨; a stupa was erected on 1674-04-18 jíshí and his relics enshrined there.
Disciples. Forty fǎsì listed (per KR6q0567 juan 10), including Pínjí Zhìxiáng 頻吉智祥 智祥 (1637–1709, of Héngyáng Yúnfēng Fóguósì, lead compiler of this yǔlù and subject of KR6q0568); Gǔshān Jǐng 谷山景; Dòngshān Bì 洞山弼; and others.
Work. KR6q0567 《元潔瑩禪師語錄》 10 juan, J39 B453, compiled by his principal fǎsì Pínjí Zhìxiáng 智祥 biān. Total yǔlù output (per the tǎmíng) was over 30 juan; the canonical edition is condensed.
Sources. 《元潔瑩禪師語錄》 vol. 10 〈塔銘〉; 《正源略集》 vol. 13; 《南海寶象林慧弓詗禪師語錄》 vol. 3, 6; 〈道影〉 vol. 3.