Definition
Reading: Enkan Saian / Reading (ZH): Yánguān Qí'ān
Yanguan Qian (塩官斉安) is a Zen monk of the Tang dynasty. Born in Haimen County; his original family name was Li. He became a monk and received the full precepts under Master Yuncong in his hometown. Later, he heard that Master Mazu Daoyi (馬祖道一) was teaching on Gonggong Mountain, and he went to study under him. When Mazu Daoyi saw the face of Yanguan, he recognized his extraordinary talent and secretly showed him the True Dharma. His base of Activity was Zhenguo Haichang Temple in Yanguan, Hangzhou. Without getting sick, he sat quietly and passed away. Posthumous Title is 悟空禅師 (Zen Master of Enlightened Emptiness) (景徳傳燈録 卷第七（No. 2076 道原纂） in Vol. 51).
Q&A
- Q: Why was the dialogue of the "Rhinoceros Fan" of Yanguan Qian discussed by many later Zen monks?
- A: Because Yanguan's question, "If the fan is broken, give me back the original rhinoceros," contained deep meaning, and high monks of later generations such as Touzi, Zifu, Shishuang, and Baofu presented their own states of enlightenment.
