Mid-Táng Tiāntái 天台 master and the principal direct disciple of Zhànrán 湛然 (湛然, 711–782); through Xíngmǎn the Tiāntái doctrinal-meditative tradition was transmitted to Saichō 最澄 (767–822) and thence to the Japanese Tendai 天台 school. DILA Authority A000423. Native of Sūzhōu 蘇州. Born in unrecorded year; died Chángqìng 長慶 4 (= February 824 CE), aged over 80.
Took monastic ordination at twenty; received full ordination at twenty-five. In the Dàlì 大曆 era (766–779) entered the school of Jīngxī Zhànrán; mastered the Tiāntái dharma-gates. In Dàlì 3 (768) took up residence at Fúchásì 浮槎寺. Subsequently relocated to Tiāntáishān, where he resided below Huádǐngfēng 華頂峯 for more than twenty years.
In Zhēnyuán 貞元 20 (804), the Japanese monk Saichō 最澄 came to China; Xíngmǎn provided him with extensive instruction in the Tiāntái doctrinal-meditative tradition. Through this transmission Xíngmǎn is one of the principal Chinese teachers of the Japanese Tendai founder.
Major works:
- Nièpán jīng shū sījì 涅槃經疏私記 (12 juan).
- Nièpán jīng yīnyì 涅槃經音義 (1 juan).
- Liùjí yì 六即義 (KR6d0219, X56n0941, 1 juan) — exposition of the Tiāntái liùjí 六即 (“six identities”) doctrine.
- Xué Tiāntáizōng fǎmén dàyì 學天台宗法門大意 (KR6d0218, X56n0940, 1 juan) — accessible introduction to Tiāntái doctrine.
- Xíngmǎn héshàng yìnxìn 行滿和上印信; Xíngmǎn héshàng shīyǔwù mùlù 行滿和尚施與物目錄.
Sources: Xíngmǎn héshàng yìnxìn (Japanese Daizōkyō 39: 39); Zhāng Bùyún 張步雲, Tang-dài ZhōngRì wǎnglái shī jízhù 唐代中日往來詩輯注; Fóguāng 2565; DILA A000423.