Xíngsēn 行森, zì Máoxī 䒢溪 (variant 茆溪 / 笻溪), biéhào Cíwēng 慈翁 (“Compassionate Old Man”), epithet Sēn Tiěbàng 森鐵棒 (“Sēn the Iron Staff”); imperially-titled Míngdào Zhèngjué chánshī 明道正覺禪師 by the Shùnzhì emperor and posthumously Yuánzhào Máoxī 圓照䒢溪 by the Yōngzhèng emperor — the latter even composed a Yùxuǎn yǔlù 御選語錄 selection of his teachings (X68 chapter on his yǔlù). LínjìYángqí dharma-heir of Mùchén Dàomǐn 道忞 (1596–1674). Born 明萬曆四十二年甲寅 = 1614 (Gregorian range 1614-02-09 to 1615-01-28); died 康熙十六年六月廿七日 = 1677-07-26, age 64. Native of Bóluó 博羅 (Guǎngdōng) — the same Bóluó that produced Hánkě 函可 (1612–1660, of the Cáodòng line) — but Xíngsēn took the LínjìYángqí path through Mùchén.
Imperial preceptorship. 順治帝 (Shùnzhì) was Xíngsēn’s most prominent disciple — the famous tonsure-incident in which Shùnzhì sought to ordain himself under Xíngsēn was prevented only by the emperor’s death. Xíngsēn’s title Tiěbàng “Iron Staff” reflects his stern teaching style.
Abbacy. Active across multiple seats; final residency on Qīngliángshān 清涼山 (Wǔtāishān) per the Qīngliángshānzhì vol. 3.
Work. KR6q0606 《明道正覺森禪師語錄》 3 juan, Qiánlóng-canon No. 1642, compiled by fǎsì Chāodé 超德 děng biān. Also separately: Yùxuǎn Míngdào Zhèngjué Máoxī Sēn chánshī yǔlù 御選明道正覺䒢溪森禪師語錄 1 juan (X68, in Yùxuǎn yǔlù vol. 11) — Yōngzhèng’s imperial-redaction.
Sources. 《五燈全書》 vol. 81, vol. 101; 《揞黑豆集》 vol. 8; 《正源略集》 vol. 4, vol. 9; 《清涼山志》 vol. 3; 《黃梅老寺中山誌》 中.