Fāngguì 芳桂, zì Xiāngyán 香嚴 (“Fragrant Adornment”); often referred to as Xiāngyán Fāngguì 香嚴芳桂. LínjìYángqí dharma-heir of Shíguān Xínglíng 行凌 (b. 1614). Born 1631, died 康熙四十七年戊子 9/1 = 1708-10-14, age 78, sēnglà 62. Native of Jiāxīng 嘉興; lay surname Chén 陳.
Formation. At 11 entered Jīngyánsì Qīngyǐnfáng 精嚴寺清隱房 in his hometown under Ěrlián 爾廉, studying yoga-tantric yújiā practice. Began to seek precepts at 26 from Yuánmùshān Pōu 圓墓山剖老和尚, with Hǒuyá 吼崖和尚 then serving as shǒuzuò — Hǒuyá opened up the zhúbìzǐ (bamboo-stick) gōngfū for him. Cān-fǎng under Gǔyǐn 古隱 and Shíguān; received final fùfǎ from Shíguān in 壬子 = 1672.
Abbacies. Jiāxīng Pǔmíng chánsì 普明禪寺 (succeeded his teacher in 康熙十六年 = 1677), Yǒngwànyuàn 涌卍院, Tàipíngyuàn 太平院, Jīngyánsì 精嚴寺.
Works.
- Compiler (děng biān) of his teacher’s yǔlù KR6q0542 《石關禪師語錄》 1 juan, J38 B423.
- Own yǔlù KR6q0543 《香嚴禪師語錄》 1 juan, J38 B424, compiled by his fǎsì Míngyào 明耀.
Sources. 《香嚴禪師語錄》 vol. 1 〈行實〉; 《五燈全書》 vol. 92.
A separate Fāngguì 芳桂 (DILA A037667), Japanese Sōtō-school monk, dharma-heir of Pǔshān Péngshòu 普山彭壽; styled Guāngshān Fāngguì 光山芳桂. Not the same person.