Xínggāo 行高, zì Yìsǒu 逸叟 (“Reclusive Old Man”); often referred to as Tōngtiān Yìsǒu 通天逸叟 from his abbacy. LínjìYángqí dharma-heir of Wànrú Tōngwēi 萬如通微 (1594–1657). Born 1616; died 康熙己酉三月十二日申時 = 1669-04-12, age 54, sēnglà 40. Native of Xīnghuà Xiānyóu 興化仙遊 (Fújiàn); lay surname Chén 陳.
Formation. Tonsured young at Liánshān Dōnglín 蓮山東林 (Fújiàn). Sequential cān-fǎng under Cháozōng Shīlín 朝宗師林; given the wànfǎ guī yī gōngàn. Then Fèiyǐn 費隱 at Jīnsù — one night, hearing the bell, had insight. Final fùfǎ under Wànrú at Lóngchí 龍池.
Abbacy. Púyáng Tōngtiān chánsì 蒲陽通天禪寺 (in Xīnghuàfǔ, Fújiàn).
Disciple. Dànyá Chāoyuán 澹崖超原 超原 (1630–1698), sole fǎsì — received the law on 康熙己酉正月元日 = 1669-02-01 (Lunar New Year), just two months before Yìsǒu’s death.
Works.
- KR6q0569 《通天逸叟高禪師語錄》 1 juan, J39 B455, zhòngzǐ (re-engraved) by fǎsūn Míngdé 明德; xínglüè by fǎsì 超原.
- 《寄瓢詩集》 (a poetry collection).
Sources. 《通天逸叟高禪師語錄》 vol. 1 〈行狀〉.