Dajian Huineng, also commonly known as the Sixth Patriarch or Sixth Ancestor of Chan, is a semi-legendary but central figure in the early history of Chinese Chan Buddhism. According to tradition he was an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening upon hearing the Diamond Sutra. Despite his lack of formal training, he demonstrated his understanding to the fifth patriarch, Daman Hongren, who then supposedly chose Huineng as his true successor instead of his publicly known selection of Yuquan Shenxiu.
Putative mummy of Huineng's body
Hakuin Ekaku, The Sixth Patriarch's Rice Mill, Edo period (1603–1867 AD)
Liang Kai, The Sixth Patriarch Tearing a Sutra, Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD)
Nanhua Temple today, where Huineng is said to have lived and taught.
Chan, from Sanskrit dhyāna, is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and Song dynasties.
Chinese Buddha Character Fo
Bodhidharma with Dazu Huike. Painting by Sesshū Tōyō, 15th century.
Rinzai
Covering over 480 acres of land and located in Talmage, California, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas was founded by Hsuan Hua.