YANGQI FANGHUI (992–1049) was a disciple of Shishuang Chuyuan. He is known as the founder of the Yangqi branch of the Linji school. All of the Linji Zen schools in the world today are spiritual descendants of this branch. Yangqi’s home was the city of Yichun in Yuanzhou (now in Jiangxi Province). As a child he was clever and well spoken. As a young man he is reported to have run afoul of authorities in his job as a tax administrator and was forced to flee into obscurity. He later became a monk at Jiufeng in Duanzhou (west of modern Guangzhou City). Traveling to the region of ancient Tanzhou, he studied under the eminent teacher Shishuang Chuyuan and became his Dharma heir. Later, he gained his mountain name while serving as abbot at the Putong Monastery at Mt. Yangqi. In the year 1046, Yangqi moved to Haihui Temple in Tanzhou.

Yangqi taught the principle that Zen is manifested in everyday events, and the great way of emancipation is to be sought in the common activities of people’s lives.

　

When Shishuang Chuyuan moved from Nanyuan to Mt. Dao Wu, and then to Shishuang, Yangqi followed him, performing administrative affairs in each place. Although Yangqi remained with Shishuang for a long time, he never attained enlightenment. Each time he would have an interview, Shishuang would say, “There are a lot of administrative affairs requiring attention. Go do them.”

　

On one occasion when Yangqi went to see Shishuang [for instruction on practice], Shishuang said, “Director! Someday your descendants will cover the earth. Why are you in a hurry?”

　

One day, Shishuang had just gone out when it suddenly began to rain. Yangqi spied his teacher walking on a small path, chased him down, and grabbed him, saying, “You’ve got to talk to me now, or else I’m going to hit you!”

　

Shishuang said, “Director! You already completely know how to take care of things, so that’s enough!”

　

Before Shishuang had finished speaking, Yangqi experienced great enlightenment. He then kneeled and bowed to Shishuang on the muddy path.