Linji

Línjì Yìxuán (simplified Chinese: 临济义玄; traditional Chinese: 臨濟義玄; Wade–Giles: Lin-chi I-hsüan, Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) was the founder of the Linji school of Chán Buddhism during Tang Dynasty China.

Linji was trained by the Chan master Huángbò Xīyùn (黃蘗希運) but, according to the Record of Linji, enlightened while discussing Huángbò's teaching during a conversation with the reclusive monk Dàyú (大愚). Linji then returned to Huángbò to continue his training after awakening. In 851 CE, Linji moved to the Linji temple in Hebei, where he took his name, which also became the name for the lineage of his form of Chán Buddhism.

Linji is reputed for being iconoclastic, leading students to awakening by hitting and shouting. Yet Linji's teaching-style, as recorded in the Linji yü lü, was exemplary of the development Chán took in the Hongzhou school (洪州宗) of Mazu and his successors, such as Huangbo, Linji's teacher.