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Sengcan

Jianzhi Sengcan (d. 606 CE), revered as the third patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China, succeeded Huike as the dharma heir and transmitted the teachings to Daoxin, thereby linking the foundational transmission from Bodhidharma to later developments in the tradition.^[1]^[2] He is traditionally associated with periods of seclusion, including at Mount Huangong in Shu (modern Qianshan, Anhui), where a pagoda was erected in his honor in 592 CE following a significant spiritual event recorded by Daoxin.^[1] Historical records of Sengcan's life are extremely sparse and primarily derive from later Chan compilations, such as the Zutang ji (10th century) and Jingde chuandeng lu (11th century), which portray him as a wandering monk who encountered persecution during the anti-Buddhist campaigns under Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou dynasty (r. 561–578) but persisted in transmitting the dharma.^[3]^[1] These accounts describe his meeting with the young Daoxin in 592 CE at age 14 in Jizhou, leading to Daoxin's ordination and eventual role as the fourth patriarch, though scholars note that such details blend legend with scant contemporary evidence, reflecting the evolving ideological narratives of Chan lineage construction.^[3]^[1] No reliable birth date exists, but his activities place him firmly in the late 6th century, a time when Chan was emerging as a distinct meditative tradition amid broader Buddhist influences in China.^[2]^[3] Sengcan's most notable contribution to Chan literature is the attribution to him of the Xinxin Ming (Inscription on the Faith in Mind), a poetic text of 146 lines composed in four-syllable verse that emphasizes non-dual awareness, the transcendence of opposites, and the direct realization of the Buddha-nature through faith in the mind's inherent purity.^[2] This work, first appearing in 8th-century records, underscores core Chan principles of sudden enlightenment and freedom from doctrinal attachments, influencing subsequent generations of practitioners and becoming a cornerstone for understanding early Chan philosophy.^[2]^[3] Despite debates over its precise authorship—some scholars viewing it as a later fabrication—its association with Sengcan solidified his legacy as a symbol of unadorned insight in the patriarchal lineage.^[3]^[4] In the broader context of Chan history, Sengcan represents the shadowy transitional phase between the proto-Chan of Bodhidharma and the more organized schools that flourished under Daoxin and Hongren in the 7th century, with his story highlighting the tradition's emphasis on oral transmission and retreat from institutional Buddhism.^[2]^[4] His relics and pagoda sites, such as those at Mount Luofu where he is said to have died, continue to serve as pilgrimage points, underscoring his enduring symbolic role in East Asian Buddhist heritage.^[1]

Biography

Early Life and Background

Sengcan's early life remains shrouded in obscurity due to the scarcity of contemporary records, rendering him the most enigmatic among the initial Chan patriarchs. Primary historical texts from the 6th and 7th centuries, such as Daoxuan's Xu gaoseng zhuan, offer no detailed biography, focusing instead on later attributions within the Chan lineage.^[11] Traditional accounts in Chan genealogical works provide no reliable birth date, though his death is placed in 606 CE, situating his activities in the late 6th century amid the fragmented Northern and Southern Dynasties. Details of his family or precise birthplace are absent from verifiable sources, though he is presumed to have begun as a lay practitioner or novice monk exposed to Buddhism through prevailing monastic communities in northern China. His decision to pursue full monastic life occurred during a time of profound instability, as dynastic conflicts and persecutions disrupted Buddhist institutions across the region. The 6th century marked a pivotal phase in Chinese Buddhism, characterized by political turmoil from the declining Northern Zhou and Northern Qi dynasties transitioning into the Sui unification in 581 CE. It was within this context that early Chan emerged as a meditation-oriented transmission, initiated by Bodhidharma's arrival from India around 520 CE and his emphasis on direct mind-to-mind instruction outside scriptural orthodoxy, laying the groundwork for the lineage that Sengcan would later join through his encounter with Huike.^[6]

Dharma Transmission from Huike

Sengcan's dharma transmission from Huike marked the continuation of the Chan Buddhist lineage initiated by Bodhidharma, establishing Sengcan as the third patriarch and emphasizing direct mind-to-mind instruction over scriptural reliance. Traditional hagiographies describe their initial encounter around 536 CE, when Sengcan, a layman over forty afflicted with a severe skin disease resembling leprosy, sought Huike's spiritual guidance despite his physical condition. This meeting reflected Sengcan's humility and determination, as his illness initially positioned him as an unlikely candidate for formal instruction in the emerging Chan tradition.^[7] The pivotal exchange occurred on Sikong Mountain, where Sengcan implored Huike to help him repent his accumulated sins. Huike, testing Sengcan's resolve and understanding, challenged him by saying, "Bring your sins here, and I will absolve them for you." After a period of introspection, Sengcan admitted he could not locate his sins, revealing his intuitive grasp of their illusory nature. Impressed by this demonstration of sincerity and insight, Huike ordained him on the spot, bestowing the dharma name Jianzhi Sengcan—meaning "Precept-Gem" or "Jewel Adorning the Precepts"—and the monk's robes. Remarkably, Sengcan's debilitating illness subsided following the ordination, symbolizing the transformative power of authentic practice in early Chan narratives. This legendary dialogue served as a profound test of resolve, underscoring themes of non-attachment and sudden realization central to the school's ethos.^[8]^[9] Sengcan subsequently attended Huike diligently for several years, with accounts varying between two and six years of intensive training focused on realizing the "one mind" and transcending dualistic thought. The formal dharma transmission culminated when Huike passed the symbolic robe and bowl of Bodhidharma to Sengcan, confirming his succession as the third patriarch in the unbroken lineage descending from the first patriarch. This event, documented in key Chan texts, highlighted the patriarchal robe's role as a tangible emblem of authentic inheritance amid the oral and intuitive nature of Chan pedagogy. Huike's conferral not only validated Sengcan's readiness but also preserved the lineage's integrity during a time of doctrinal fragmentation in Chinese Buddhism.^[9]^[8] The transmission's legendary elements, including the healing miracle and the sin-absolution koan-like exchange, illustrate the hagiographic style of early Chan literature, blending historical events with inspirational motifs to convey the immediacy of enlightenment. By affirming Sengcan's place in the succession, this event laid foundational precedents for future patriarchs, reinforcing Chan's identity as a distinct school prioritizing personal verification over institutional forms.^[7]

Persecution and Exile

In 574 CE, Emperor Wu (Yuwen Yong, r. 560–578) of the Northern Zhou dynasty launched a severe anti-Buddhist persecution, issuing an edict that abolished Buddhism as a state religion, ordered the destruction of over 40,000 temples and images, and forced the laicization of approximately two million monks and nuns across the realm.^[10] This campaign, motivated by the emperor's aim to consolidate imperial power and economic resources while favoring Daoism and Confucianism, targeted the institutional Buddhist establishment, compelling many clergy, including early Chan figures like Sengcan, to evade authorities or return to secular life. As the third patriarch of Chan, Sengcan, who had received dharma transmission from Huike, faced direct threats to his monastic practice and lineage continuity during this upheaval.^[11] To survive, Sengcan went into hiding, fleeing to remote mountainous regions such as the Huangshan area or Wangongshan, where he lived as a hermit in seclusion for roughly three years until the persecution's peak subsided around 577 CE.^[3] Traditional accounts in Chan records, including the Xu gaoseng zhuan (Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks, compiled 645 CE by Daoxuan), describe him pretending to be a lunatic to avoid detection and execution, relying on sparse lay support from sympathetic villagers while sustaining himself through ascetic practices in isolated caves or forests.^[3] These survival strategies underscored the vulnerability of early Chan transmission, which lacked robust institutional backing, prompting Sengcan to emphasize personal, direct insight into the dharma over reliance on temple structures or communal rituals.^[12] The exile profoundly shaped the dissemination of early Chan, as Sengcan's period of isolation from 574 to 577 CE fragmented direct teacher-student interactions and forced the lineage underground, yet it also cultivated a resilient model of itinerant, non-institutional practice that later defined the school's adaptability. By evading the state's scrutiny through hermitage, Sengcan preserved core Chan elements like silent illumination and mind-to-mind transmission, preventing the total erasure of the Bodhidharma lineage amid the dynasty's suppression.^[3] This era of adversity highlighted Chan's potential to thrive beyond organized religion, influencing its evolution into a more autonomous tradition post-persecution.^[12]

Succession to Daoxin and Death

After years of wandering and imparting Chan teachings across various regions, in 592 CE Sengcan encountered the novice monk Daoxin in Jizhou when Daoxin was 14 years old. Daoxin served him faithfully for nine years, demonstrating profound insight that led Sengcan to transmit the Dharma lineage to him, designating Daoxin as his successor and the fourth Chan patriarch. In 592 CE, following a significant spiritual event recorded by Daoxin, a pagoda was erected in Sengcan's honor at Mount Huangong in Shu (modern Qianshan, Anhui). This transmission emphasized direct insight into Buddha-nature over scriptural study, aligning with the meditative tradition inherited from earlier patriarchs.^[13]^[1] Sengcan died in 606 CE, during the second year of the Daye era of the Sui dynasty, while seated in meditation beneath a tree during a Dharma assembly. According to traditional accounts preserved in Chan genealogies, he was interred on Wangong Mountain, where a stupa was erected in his honor.^[13]^[14] The location of Sengcan's grave remained obscure for over a century until its rediscovery in 745–746 CE during the Tang dynasty, when the official Li Ch'ang unearthed it in Shu-chou (near Wangong Mountain), recovering relics including an inscribed tile-epitaph attributed to Daoxin. This event, detailed in early Chan texts such as the Baolin zhuan (incorporated into the Jingde chuandeng lu), affirmed the site's authenticity and contributed to the veneration of Sengcan within the emerging Chan tradition.^[3] In the immediate aftermath of Sengcan's death, Daoxin upheld and propagated the lineage from Wangong Mountain and later sites, navigating the turbulent transition from the Sui to the Tang dynasty, including the widespread unrest and anti-Buddhist persecutions that followed the Sui collapse in 618 CE. Daoxin's efforts laid the groundwork for the institutionalization of Chan amid these challenges, ensuring the continuity of the patriarchal line.^[13]

Teachings and Philosophy

Core Concepts of Non-Duality

Sengcan's teachings, as preserved in early Chan traditions, center on non-dual awareness as the essence of enlightenment, positing that reality is fundamentally undivided and free from oppositional distinctions. This perspective rejects the bifurcation of phenomena into separate categories, emphasizing instead a unified mind-essence that encompasses all experiences without preference or aversion. Attributed to Sengcan through oral lineages and later records, this non-dual framework underscores that true understanding arises when the practitioner ceases to impose artificial divisions on the seamless flow of existence.^[15] Central to these ideas is the concept of "faith in mind" (xinxin), which Sengcan presented as the direct gateway to transcending dualities such as good and evil, self and other, or existence and emptiness. Faith in mind is not mere belief but an embodied trust in the inherent purity of consciousness, where duality dissolves into equanimity, allowing the practitioner to rest in the original nature without striving. This approach promotes a holistic realization that all opposites are interdependent manifestations of the same underlying reality, fostering liberation from conceptual entrapment.^[16]^[17] Sengcan advocated for the direct realization of Buddha-nature, the innate enlightened potential present in every being, achievable without dependence on scriptures, rituals, or gradual cultivation. This teaching aligns with the sudden awakening paradigm in early Chan, where insight emerges spontaneously upon dropping all attachments to views and desires, revealing the non-dual ground of being. By bypassing intermediary practices, practitioners are encouraged to recognize that enlightenment is not an acquired state but the inherent condition obscured only by delusive thinking.^[15]^[16] In practical terms, Sengcan's non-dual philosophy informs meditation by urging the release of attachments to achieve unwavering equanimity amid changing circumstances. Meditation here involves cultivating a non-discriminating awareness, where thoughts and sensations are observed without grasping or rejection, leading to a state of no-mind that integrates activity and stillness. This method enables sustained presence in daily life, transforming ordinary experiences into opportunities for realizing non-duality and maintaining inner peace regardless of external conditions.^[16]^[15]

Connection to Lankavatara Sutra

Traditional accounts in early Chan texts portray Sengcan as a key figure in the transmission of the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, received through Bodhidharma's lineage from Huike. According to the Lengqie shizi ji (Records of the Masters and Students of the Laṅkāvatāra), a text from around 660–670 CE, Sengcan inherited the sutra's four-volume edition as the third patriarch, emphasizing its role in the silent, mind-to-mind dharma transmission central to early Chan.^[18] This lineage narrative positions Sengcan as a devotee who studied and propagated the sutra's doctrines, focusing on the mind-only (cittamātra) perspective, which asserts that all phenomena arise from the mind without an independent external reality.^[19] The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra's core elements, such as the tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-embryo) doctrine portraying the inherent purity and potential for enlightenment in all beings, and its rejection of externalism in favor of introspective realization, were adapted into Chan's contemplative practices under Sengcan's purported influence. These ideas shifted emphasis from scriptural exegesis to direct meditation on the mind's true nature, aligning with Chan's emerging anti-verbal, practice-oriented approach. For instance, the sutra's call to transcend dualistic perceptions through insight into the storehouse consciousness (ālayavijñāna) informed early Chan methods like "wall contemplation," fostering non-discriminatory awareness in daily life. Modern scholars, however, question the depth of Sengcan's connection to the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, viewing it as superficial or retroactively imposed to legitimize the Chan lineage. John R. McRae argues that the association with Bodhidharma and subsequent patriarchs like Sengcan represents a later mythologization, with scant direct evidence in pre-eighth-century sources linking Sengcan personally to the sutra's study or transmission.^[19] Analyses of texts like the Xu gaoseng zhuan reveal inconsistencies, such as Sengcan's lack of written works and emphasis on oral, secretive teaching, suggesting the sutra's prominence was amplified in Huayan-Chan interactions rather than a historical fact from his era.^[18] This critique highlights how early Chan identities were constructed discursively, with the Laṅkāvatāra's doctrines more influentially reinterpreted in later schools like the Northern Chan.^[20]

Attributed Writings

The Xinxin Ming

The Xinxin Ming, translated variably as "Inscription on Faith in Mind" or "Verses on the Faith-Mind," is a foundational poem in Chan Buddhism, consisting of 146 unrhymed lines composed in four-character verses in classical Chinese.^[21] This structure, resembling an early sutra in its concise and rhythmic form, systematically unfolds the essence of non-dual awareness, urging practitioners to transcend dualistic thinking.^[9] Attributed traditionally to Sengcan, the third Chan patriarch, the poem serves as a poetic guide to realizing the mind's inherent purity through direct insight rather than gradual cultivation.^[21] Central to the Xinxin Ming are themes of the unity of opposites and the cessation of mental discriminations, portraying reality as an undivided whole where apparent contradictions dissolve. For instance, the opening lines declare, "The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences; / Only when love and hate arise does the Way seem blurry," emphasizing that dualistic preferences obscure the natural clarity of the mind.^[9] Key verses further illustrate the illusion of separation, such as "One in all, all in one—if only this is realized, / No more worry about your not being perfect," which highlights how clinging to distinctions creates suffering, while releasing them reveals interconnected oneness.^[21] Another pivotal line, "The best, most straightforward way is to have no preferences at all," promotes an effortless practice free from striving, aligning with the poem's call to "rest in the very source" without artificial effort.^[9] In Chan literature, the Xinxin Ming holds a pivotal historical role as one of the earliest texts encapsulating the doctrine of sudden enlightenment, influencing subsequent works like the Platform Sutra and gong'an collections by distilling complex non-dual principles into accessible verse.^[21] Its emphasis on immediate realization without stages of progression marked a shift toward the direct-pointing method central to Chan pedagogy, making it a touchstone for meditators across East Asian Buddhist traditions.^[9] This poem's themes resonate with Sengcan's broader non-dual teachings, reinforcing the idea that enlightenment arises from simply abiding in the mind's original state.

Authorship and Historical Attribution

The Xinxin Ming (Inscription on Faith in Mind) has been traditionally attributed to Sengcan, the third patriarch of Chan Buddhism, in genealogical records of the tradition beginning in the 8th century. These attributions, appearing in texts such as the Baolin Zhuan (801 CE) and later compilations like the Zutang Ji (952 CE), link the poem to Sengcan's lifetime (ca. 529–606 CE) due to its thematic emphasis on non-duality, the rejection of dualistic thinking, and direct realization of the mind, which align with the nascent Chan ideals associated with the early patriarchs. Modern scholars, however, widely contest this attribution, proposing instead a later composition dating to the mid-7th or 8th century, potentially within the Oxhead (Niutou) school of Chan. Key evidence includes the poem's absence from pre-Tang dynasty sources, such as the 7th-century Lengjia shizi ji, which explicitly states that Sengcan did not commit his teachings to writing; linguistic anachronisms, including syntactic structures and vocabulary influenced by later Taoist and Huayan Buddhist traditions not evident in 6th-century materials; and close stylistic parallels to the Xin Ming (Mind Inscription), a text attributed to the Oxhead founder Farong (594–657 CE). Scholars like Nishitani Keiji and Yanagida Seizan have dated the work to around the 8th century based on these textual features, suggesting it emerged during the formative period of Tang Chan syncretism rather than Sengcan's Sui-era context.^[22] Despite these debates, the traditional linkage of the Xinxin Ming to Sengcan endures in Chan lore, enhancing his historical role as a foundational figure even if the authorship is pseudepigraphic. The poem's embodiment of core early Chan principles—such as equanimity and transcendence of opposites—continues to symbolize the philosophical spirit attributed to him, influencing subsequent interpretations of the lineage regardless of its precise origins.^[22]

Historical Sources

Earliest Biographies

The earliest surviving account of Sengcan appears in the Xu Gaoseng Zhuan (Further Biographies of Eminent Monks), compiled by the monk Daoxuan in 645 CE during the Tang dynasty. This text briefly identifies Sengcan as the third patriarch in the emerging Chan lineage, noting his transmission of the Dharma from the second patriarch Huike and to the fourth patriarch Daoxin, while recording his death in 606 CE at the age of 67 during the Sui dynasty. Beyond these essential lineage details, the entry provides no further narrative on his life, activities, or personal background, underscoring the sparse historical record available at the time.^[23] Daoxuan's compilation played a crucial role in Tang-era efforts to document and legitimize Buddhist traditions, including the nascent Chan school, by integrating patriarchal successions into broader hagiographic collections that emphasized monastic orthodoxy and imperial patronage. The minimal focus on Sengcan in this context served primarily to affirm the continuity of the Bodhidharma lineage without elaborating on individual exploits, reflecting the text's broader aim to catalog eminent monks through verifiable clerical records rather than extended anecdotes.^[24] These early sources exhibit significant limitations, as Daoxuan likely drew upon oral traditions circulating among contemporary Chan practitioners in the capital Chang'an, leading to an anecdotal and potentially embellished portrayal designed to enhance the school's legitimacy amid competing Buddhist sects. The brevity and hagiographic tone, which prioritize spiritual pedigree over empirical details, highlight the challenges of reconstructing Sengcan's historicity from such fragmentary accounts.^[25]

Later Chan Records

Early developments in Chan-specific historiography from the 8th century, such as the Baolin zhuan (Transmission from the Jeweled Grove, c. 801 CE) and the Lengqie shiziji (Records of Masters and Disciples of the Laṅkā, c. 730–780 CE), began to expand on Sengcan's role in the lineage, incorporating elements of his encounters and transmissions, though these texts are now largely lost or fragmentary. The Zutang ji (Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall, 952 CE), the earliest extant comprehensive Chan transmission history compiled during the Southern Tang dynasty, provides one of the first dedicated entries on Sengcan, albeit brief (around 272 characters), emphasizing his succession from Huike and transmission to Daoxin amid persecution, setting the stage for later elaborations.^[3]^[26] The Jingde chuandeng lu (Record of the Transmission of the Lamp Compiled during the Jingde Era), compiled in 1004 CE under imperial patronage during the Song dynasty, serves as a primary later Chan record expanding Sengcan's biography, detailing his Dharma transmission from Huike, periods of persecution and exile, and eventual passing of the lineage to Daoxin.^[3] This text, edited by the monk Daoyuan and spanning 30 volumes, incorporates narratives of Sengcan's encounter with Huike—where Sengcan sought absolution for his afflictions, only to realize their non-substantiality through Huike's guidance—and his subsequent wandering in mountains like Wangong to evade anti-Buddhist edicts under Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou dynasty (r. 561–578 CE).^[27] These accounts build upon earlier, more minimal biographical sketches by adding dramatic elements of endurance and seclusion, portraying Sengcan as a pivotal link in the Chan transmission from Indian roots to Chinese soil.^[3] Subsequent expansions of Chan lamp records, such as those in the 13th-century Wudeng huiyuan (Compendium of the Five Lamps), further elaborated Sengcan's story by integrating hagiographic tales like the discovery of his tomb and relics at Wangong Mountain, originally from the 8th-century Baolin zhuan (Transmission from the Jeweled Grove), to underscore his devotees' piety and the tangible continuity of the patriarchal line.^[3] These legends emphasize themes of selfless devotion, such as Sengcan's alleged instruction to followers during hiding that true Dharma transcends verbal expression, reinforcing Chan's narrative of unbroken mind-to-mind transmission from Bodhidharma onward and bridging Indian meditation practices with indigenous Chinese expressions of faith.^[28] Such inclusions served to authenticate Sengcan's role amid competing lineage claims, highlighting his era's trials as emblematic of Chan's resilient orthodoxy. The shaping of these narratives in the Jingde chuandeng lu and later records reflected Song dynasty agendas to institutionalize Chan as a state-sanctioned tradition, with the text's inclusion in the Buddhist canon in 1011 CE promoting a standardized model of six Chinese patriarchs—Bodhidharma through Huineng—to unify diverse schools under imperial authority and counter Tiantai and Huayan influences. This editorial emphasis on a linear, heroic succession narrative, supported by literati like Yang Yi, elevated Sengcan's hagiography to bolster Chan's claim as a "separate transmission outside the teachings," ensuring its prominence in medieval Buddhist historiography.

Legacy and Influence

Role in Chan Lineage

Sengcan holds a pivotal position as the third patriarch in the Chan lineage, succeeding Huike and preceding Daoxin, thereby serving as a crucial bridge between Bodhidharma's emphasis on dhyana meditation and the more communal practices that Daoxin would develop. According to early Chan records, such as the Lidai fabao ji, Sengcan transmitted the essential teachings of direct mind-to-mind awakening from Bodhidharma, preserving the tradition's focus on silent illumination amid periods of persecution during the Northern Zhou dynasty.^[11] This linkage ensured the continuity of Chan's introspective core, transitioning it from isolated meditative pursuits to a framework capable of supporting larger gatherings under Daoxin. While the Lengqie shizi ji documents the early Chan lineage including Sengcan's role in transmitting teachings on non-duality, the doctrine of sudden enlightenment emerged later in Chan developments, particularly shaping the Southern School as promoted by figures like Shenhui. His era, spanning the late 6th century, marked Chan's gradual shift from marginal, persecuted practices to greater institutionalization, laying groundwork for the organized monastic communities established by Daoxin and expanded by Hongren, the fifth patriarch. This progression influenced key figures such as Hongren and Huineng, whose teachings on inherent Buddha-nature built directly on the patriarchal transmission Sengcan upheld, as noted in Shenhui's discourses.^[11]^[29] Culturally, Sengcan is depicted in traditional Chinese art as part of the Chan patriarch series, such as in 15th- to 16th-century ink handscrolls portraying the lineage figures in meditative or transmitting poses, emphasizing his role in the sacred succession. Sites like Wangong Mountain in Yixian, where tradition holds he hid during persecutions, feature commemorative structures and serve as pilgrimage points honoring the early patriarchs. In Chan rituals, such as dharma transmission ceremonies, Sengcan is invoked alongside other patriarchs to affirm the unbroken lineage, reinforcing the tradition's historical legitimacy through recitations and offerings.^[30]

Modern Scholarship and Interpretations

Modern scholarship on Sengcan, particularly from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, has increasingly questioned the reliability of traditional hagiographies portraying him as a historical third patriarch of Chan Buddhism. Scholars such as John R. McRae argue that the early Chan lineage, including figures like Sengcan, was largely a retrospective construct designed to legitimize the tradition's genealogy rather than reflect verifiable historical events, emphasizing instead the symbolic role these patriarchs played in shaping Chan identity.^[31] Similarly, Bernard Faure's deconstructive approach highlights how hagiographic narratives around Sengcan function as rhetorical devices to promote ideals of immediacy and orthodoxy, proposing that he may represent a symbolic archetype rather than a flesh-and-blood individual whose life details can be substantiated prior to the Tang dynasty. Additionally, scholars like Chen Jinhua propose that Sengcan may be a constructed figure amalgamating elements from three distinct monks named "Can" to bridge the gap between Huike and Daoxin.^[29] Archaeological evidence provides limited support for Sengcan's veneration but underscores the later development of his cult. In 746 CE, the official Li Chang reportedly located what was believed to be Sengcan's grave in Shu Prefecture (modern-day Anhui) and oversaw the erection of a pagoda to preserve his relics, which attests to active Tang-era devotion but offers no corroboration for earlier biographical elements such as his purported encounters with predecessors or exile during persecutions.^[32] This inscription, along with related pagoda constructions, illustrates how Sengcan's legacy was actively cultivated in the mid-8th century to bolster Chan institutional presence, yet it remains silent on pre-Tang historicity. In Western Zen interpretations, Sengcan's attributed text, the Xinxin Ming (Inscription on Faith in Mind), has been reframed as embodying proto-existentialist themes of non-dual awareness and authentic being. D. T. Suzuki, in his influential translations and commentaries, presented the "faith mind" as a direct pointer to unmediated enlightenment, influencing mid-20th-century popularizations of Zen as a philosophy transcending dualistic thought.^[21] Alan Watts further adapted these ideas, interpreting the poem's emphasis on effortless unity as akin to existential freedom from conceptual binaries, thereby bridging Eastern non-duality with Western individualism in works like The Way of Zen. Ongoing philological debates, however, challenge the text's attribution to Sengcan, with scholars dating it to the late 7th or early 8th century based on linguistic analysis and comparative studies with Tang-era Daoist and Buddhist writings, suggesting possible authorship by an anonymous Chan practitioner rather than the third patriarch himself.^[9]

References

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### Summary of Sengcan, Third Chan Patriarch
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[28]
Rising from the Margins: The Formation of the Institutional Features ...
Daoxin and Hongren broadly opened the doors of Dharma transmission to their disciples, with low entry requirements, attracting many monks to study under them.
[29]
The Six Patriarchs of Chan Buddhism - Tsem Rinpoche
Feb 8, 2017 · Jianzhi Sengcan (6th Century CE) was the Third Chinese Patriarch of Chan following Huike and Bodhidharma, and is considered the thirtieth ...
[30]
Seeing through Zen by John Mcrae - University of California Press
Synthesizing twenty years of scholarship, Seeing through Zen offers new, accessible analytic models for the interpretation of Chan spiritual practices and ...
[31]
(PDF) 3 Zhanran.JIABS - Academia.edu
When Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou jtJUj&i^ 0*. 560-78) waged a wide-scale persecution of Buddism in 574, Huike and Sengcan fled to Wangongshan and lived at ...