Daxiu Zhengnian

CHINA, Zhejiang, Wenzhou; Southern Song dynasty

Daxiu Zhengnian, also known in Japan as Daikyu Shonen, was from Yongjia of Wenzhou. He was a calligrapher and Chan master of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism. Initially, he studied the teachings of the Caodong school under Master Donggu Miaoguang at Lingyin Temple in Jiangsu. Later, he learned Chan from Master Shiqi Xinyue in Jingshan and became his Dharma successor. In 1269, Master Daxiu was invited to Japan by chief minister Hojo Tokimune of the Kamakura shogunate, and subsequently founded Jochiji Temple. He served as the abbot in Zenkoji Temple, Juhukuji Temple, Kenchoji Temple, and Engakuji Temple respectively.
Alongside Chan Master Wuxue Zuyuan, Master Daxiu assisted in the establishing of Zen monasteries throughout Kamakura. He was posthumously bestowed the title Zen Master Butsugen, and his teachings formulated what is referred to as the Butsugen branch, which is one of the 24 branches of Zen Buddhism in Japan.
Adept in calligraphy, Master Daxiu’s legacy works, Praise of the Buddha Relics and Letter, are both listed as Important Cultural Properties of Japan and are now kept at the Tokyo National Museum in Japan. Praise of the Buddha Relics was influenced by the calligraphy of Zhang Jizhi, and exhibits an orderly and elegant style. Letter features a form that is strict and refrained, rendering the bold spirit he acquired from his practice of Chan. Daxiu also authored six fascicles of Quotes of Chan Master Daxiu Zhengnian.