Yantou Quanhuo

Yantou Quanhuo
Title	Ch'an-shih
Personal
Born	828 Quanzhou, China
Died	887
Religion	Zen Buddhism
Nationality	Chinese
School	Ch'an
Other names	Ch'an Master Clear Severity
Senior posting
Predecessor	Deshan Xuanjin

Yantou Quanhuo (Chinese: 巖頭全豁; pinyin: Yántóu Quánhuō; Japanese Gānto Zenkatsu) (828–887) was an ancient Ch'an master of Yantou Monastery in Ezhou, China. A dharma heir of Deshan Xuanjin, Quanho was born in Quanzhou and became a novice monk at Baoshu Temple in Changan, China. Known to be an avid traveler, Yantou eventually began studying Ch'an under Deshan and received Dharma transmission from him. He then became master of Yantou Monastery, where he led a congregation of students. In 887 on the "eighth day of the fourth month" his temple was raided by bandits. When the bandits realized the temple had nothing of value to take, one of them stabbed Yantou—murdering him. It is said that his scream at death could be heard for ten miles. He was given the title Ch'an Master Clear Severity following his death. Yantou is the subject of several koan cases that appear in the Mumonkan such as case number 13, titled "Tokusan Carries His Bowls".

References

• Ferguson, Andrew (2000). Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-163-7.
• Yamada, Koun (2004). The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-382-6.
• Leighton, Taigen Dan; Okumura, Shohaku; Dogen (1996). Dogen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community a Translation of the Eihei Shingi. State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-585-04623-9. OCLC 42854986.