Guishan Lingyou

Life

• 771: born in Changxi, Fujian
• 785: became a Buddhist monk at age 15, received tonsure ceremony at Shanjian Temple in Fujian, received the monastic precepts at Longxing Temple in Hangzhou where he studied sutra and Vinaya Pitaka.
• 793: at age 23, followed Zen Master Baizhang Huaihai, as his dharma heir disciple
• 820: became the abbot of Tongqing Temple in Guishan, Hunan Province. Master Lingyou trained many disciples, included Yangshan Huiji, his dharma heir. The Guiyang school was named after master Guishan Lingyou and his disciple, Yangshan Huiji.
• 853: died at age 83