Danxia Tianran

• Name — Danxia Tianran 丹 • Born — 739 • Birthplace — China • Died — 824 739 • Religion — Buddhism • Denomination — Chan/Zen • School — Hongzhou school Caodong/Sōtō • Title — Chan master • Teacher — Mazu Daoyi

Danxia first studied Confucianism, but while traveling to Ch'ang-an to take the imperial exams he stayed at a lodge and dreamed of a white light filling the room, which a diviner interpreted as an omen of understanding emptiness and thereafter a Chan buddhist traveler suggested Danxia pursue Chan Buddhism instead of an imperial job. Danxia first studied under Mazu Daoyi, who gave him a dharma name Tianran (天然; meaning "son of nature") after Danxia climbed onto the shoulders of a statue of Manjushri in the monk's hall. • Illustration — Monk Tanka Burning a Buddha Image by Nagasawa Rosetsu. After Mazu's death, Danxia journeyed from temple to temple, finally arriving at a temple where he became so cold he took a wooden Buddha statue, chopped it into pieces, and used the wood for a fire to warm himself. When Danxia became 81 years old, he retired to a hermitage at Mount Danxia in Hunan province where up to three hundred Buddhist students gathered around the mountain and built a monastery around him, with Danxia teaching them in sayings and poems: Four years after arriving at the mountain, he said to his students, “I'm going on a journey once again.” Danxia then readied his traveling hat, robe, and staff. When he put on his pilgrim's sandals, he died before his foot again touched the ground.