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永嘉證道歌

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: Song of Enlightenment

Senses:

  • Yongjia zhengdao ge; 1 fasc., T 2014. Often referred to by its popular short title 證道歌. Attributed to Yongjia Xuanjue 永嘉玄覺 (665–713) a student of Huineng 慧能. Thought to be have been composed during the late 8th century. Along with the 信心銘, a popular early Chan 禪宗 text that emphasizes the direct severance of thought, and is aimed at adept practitioners. Written in 1814 ideographs in 247 verses in the 3-3-7-7 style, it is related closely in its language to the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment 圓覺經 along with Shitouʼs 石頭 Cantongqi 參同契. It was popular in the Caodong 曹洞 school of Chan. There are slightly variant versions of the text in a few different collections, including in the Jingde chuandeng lu 景德傳燈錄, starting at T 2076.51.460a14. There is also a Dunhuang 敦煌 manuscript of the text contained in P2104 and P2105, in the Chanmen miyao lu 禪門秘要錄. According to Enninʼs 圓仁 catalog, it is also known by the titles Foxingge 佛性歌, Caoxi Chanshi Zhengdao ge 曹溪禪師證道歌, Zuishangsheng foxing ge 最上乘佛性歌, and Jiandaoxing ge 見道性歌. Due to its great popularity in the Chan tradition, there are many commentaries and expositions of the text available. The T 2014 edition also has a biography appended with the title Wuxiang dashi xingzhuang 無相大師行狀, written by the Northern Song 北宋 official Yang Yi 楊億. This consists mainly of an account of Xuanxueʼs famous encounter with Huineng, where he is suddenly enlightened. Several modern English translations have been done, and a translation in the BDK English Tripiṭaka is forthcoming.

    [Chinese Buddhist Canonical Attributions Database]

    References:

    2017. Yōka Daishiʼs Realizing the Way. London:  The Buddhist Society.

    Huang, Yi-hsün. 2010. “A Study of the Development of Yongjia Xuanjueʼs Biographies: With a Focus on Their Relationship to the Concept of School (zong 宗) in Chinese Buddhism.” Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal 23 : 117–130.

    Kajitani, Sōnin , Seizan  Yanagida, and Kōichi  Tsujimura. 2016. Shinjinmei, Shōdōka, Jūgyūzu, Zazengi. Tokyo:  Chikuma Shobō. Zen no goroku 禅の語録 . 16,

    Liebenthal, Walter. 1941. “Yung-Chiaʼs Song of Experiencing the Tao.” Monumenta Serica 6 : 1–39.

    Luk, Charles. 1962. “Yung-Chiaʼs Song of Enlighenment.”  In Ch'an and Zen Teaching: Third Series. London:  Rider & Co. 102–145.

    Payne, Robert. 1947. “The Song of Experiencing the Tao.”  In The White Pony: An Anthology of Chinese Poetry. New York:  New American Library.

    Sawaki, Kōdō, and J. Thomas Rimer. Coursin, Janine, Tonen Sara O'Connor,  Shohaku Okumura, eds. 2015. Commentary on the Song of Awakening: A Twentieth Century Japanese Zen Masterʼs Commentary on the Seventh Century Poem by the Chinese Ch'an Master Yung-Chia Hsüan-Chüeh (Yōka Genkaku). Portland, Me.:  MerwinAsia..

    Suzuki, Daisetsu. 1935. “Yōka Daishiʼs "Song of Enlightenment".”  In Manual of Zen Buddhism. Kyoto:  Eastern Buddhist Society. 89–103.

    [Charles Muller; source(s): Kamata]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Fo Guang Dictionary 2015

    Bussho kaisetsu daijiten (Ono) ⑪151b

    Bukkyō daijiten (Mochizuki) (v.1-6)2708b

    Copyright provisions

    The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!

    Entry created: 2001-09-08

    Updated: 2021-05-23