Definition
Reading: Yakusan Igen / Reading (ZH): Yàoshān Wéiyǎn
Yaoshan Weiyan (薬山惟儼) is a Chinese Zen master from the Tang Dynasty. In Japanese, the name is read as "Yakusan Igen." He becomes a monk under the same teacher as Baizhang Huaihai. Later, he is the successor of the great master Shitou Xiqian.
Q&A
- Q: What are the characteristics of Yaoshan Weiyan’s teaching style?
- A: Yaoshan did not use words to teach. He believed that "how you act every day is the teaching itself." In Zen, Shitou’s lineage is often called a "Pure Gold Shop" (Shinkinpo) because it only shows the real truth. Yaoshan described this style as "an old man barely living and walking weakly." This means he hated "fake" or "showy" things. He showed the truth of life simply and honestly, without any extra decorations or long speeches.
