The Yangqi lineage is a sub-lineage of the Linji lineage of the Chinese Chan school. Its founder, the Song dynasty Chan monk Fanghui (992-1049), was a disciple of the seventh generation Linji master Shishuang Chuyuan (986-1039). Since Fanghui used to live at the Puming Chan monastery on Yangqi mountain in Yuanzhou, his tradition is called the Yangqi lineage. Third generation master Yuanwu Keqin’s (1063-1135) disciples Huqiu Shaolong (1077-1136) and Dahui Zonggao (1089-1163) founded their own branches. Huqiu’s third generation disciples Songyuan Chongyue (1132-1202) and Po’an Zuxian (1136-1211) became the founders of the Songyuan and Po’an branches. Almost all of the later generations of Linji School masters belonged to these two branches that mainly flourished in Southern China and continued to be transmitted until the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Song dynasty, the Huayan school still exerted its influence on Buddhist study and practice. On the one hand, there were erudite monks who specialized in the study of Huayan thought. On the other hand, monks belonging to the Chan school also emphasized the study of Huayan. Therefore, a number of Chan monks relied on the Huayan teachings when they expounded their method of Chan practice. The Chan monks of the Songyuan branch of the Yangqi lineage were influenced by Huayan teachings to a considerable degree, and they absorbed numerous concepts from the Huayan school. This study only discusses the combining and blending of Chan teachings and Huayan thought as manifest in the writings and records of the Songyuan branch masters Xinyue (dates unknown), Zhiyu (1185-1269), Daolong (1213- 1278), Zhengnian (1215-1289), Xinggong (1222-1289), Qingmao (1262- 1329), Zhengyin (dates unknown), Qingyu (1288-1363), Fanxian (1292- 1348), Wuwen (1309-1386), Weiyi (dates unknown), and Puzhuang (1346-1403).
