临济四祖风穴延沼禅师行略评述

Comment on the Deeds and the Life of the Fourth Master of Rinzai Zen Yanzhao in Fengxue Ruzhou

在临济宗前期的法脉传承史上,风穴延沼禅师是一个极其关键的人物,甚至可以说,没有延沼就没有"临天下"的临济宗。一方面,风穴延沼在沩仰宗发展的昌盛时期接续了临济宗的稀薄法脉而使之无断;另一方面,风穴延沼付法于首山省念禅师,自此,临济宗风开始走向兴盛,竟使沩仰一脉几乎湮没于史。因此,延沼-省念的传承开启了临济宗的兴盛局面,延沼也成为了临济宗发展早期一位承前启后的人物,其地位及影响绝不止于当时,更延绵世久。

During the earlier stage of Rinzai Zen＇s lineage, Yan Zhao was an important character,even in a manner of speaking that without Yan Zhao, there would be no situation of Rinzai Zen＇s superpower. On the one hand, Yan Zhao carried on the Rinzai Zen＇s decadent lineage at the flourishing of Wei Yang sect. On the other hand, Yan Zhao transmitted Buddha Dharma to Xing Nian. Henceforth, Rinzai Zen begain to prosper. Therefore, the lineage of Yan Zhao to Xing Nian opened the phase of Rinzai Zen＇s prosper, Yan Zhan also became an character that links the past and the future. In addition, he not only influenced the Buddhism at his age but also influenced the later development of Buddhism.