This study is about the process of succession of a female zen master and the successor’s thinking. In the recorded pedigree of zen masters succession, female zen masters are rare. Most of them were alone and had no successors. Even if they had successors, there was only one generation in very small amount with little information. Therefore, Qi-Yuan started the trend of Fu-Shih female zen and appointed Yigong as the successor of Fu-Shih Zen monastery. Both of them left words and behaviors in record, which is so precious and meaningful for witnessing the succession of female zen masters. The purposes of this research, as a result, are to explore the process of Yigong’s Indoctrination, features of education, her encounter with Qi-Yuan, process of succession, composition of Ode to Origin and Development, succession situation and difficulties and so on. At last, according to Yigong’s circumstances, some investigations are made on requirements of great monastery for nuns and women. The light of female zen succession was finally in ignited, but with the difficulties of Yigong succession and constant changes, so called “cold dreams and moon in the master’s school,” “staking the universe alone,” “unfrequented master’s school,” and “no encounter with someone who understands the doctrines” became the footnotes of Yigong succession. Although her zen style is free with clear reasons and magnificence, the succession was short-lived, like a flash in the pan. Even with support of Yiquai, it still disappeared in the history, just like the tail of the comet suddenly vanishing in the sky.
