Shì Míngběn 釋明本 (1263–1323), commonly known as Zhōngfēng Míngběn 中峰明本 (“Central-Peak Míngběn”); imperial title Pǔyìng guóshī 普應國師, posthumous shìhào Zhìjué chánshī 智覺禪師. Layman’s surname Sūn 孫. Native of Qiántáng 錢塘 (Hángzhōu); lived at Yàndàngcūn 鴈蕩村. Took the tonsure at Wúshān Shèngshuǐ Sì 吳山聖水寺. Principal Yuán Lín-jì-school huàtóu Chán master, Dharma-heir of Gāofēng Yuánmiào 高峰原妙 of Mt. Tiānmù 天目山. Repeatedly declined invitations to head major monasteries (míngshān zhǔxí), retreated into hidden self-cultivation (píngjì zìfàng). Friend and Dharma-mentor of Zhào Mèngfǔ 趙孟頫 and Zhào’s wife Guǎn Dàoshēng 管道昇; through Zhào, friend also of Féng Zǐzhèn (馮子振).
Méihuā bǎi yǒng exchange. When Zhào Mèngfǔ brought Míngběn to visit Féng Zǐzhèn — who had initially shown disdain — Féng produced his hundred plum-blossom heptasyllabic-quatrains; Míngběn answered them piece-for-piece on the spot, then produced his famous 九字梅花歌 Jiǔzì méihuā gē (“Nine-Character Plum-Blossom Song” — a tour-de-force in nine-character lines) in return. The two formed a friendship from that day. The exchange is preserved in KR4h0075 Méihuā bǎi yǒng.
Works. Zhōngfēng Míngběn Guǎnglù 中峰明本廣錄 (the canonical record of his teachings) in 30 juǎn (T48n2026 Tiānmù Zhōngfēng héshàng guǎnglù) and the Huànzhù Zhōngfēng Míngběn chánshī yǔlù 幻住中峰明本禪師語錄. DILA Authority A002150. CBDB person 113216.