Dongshan means "Cave Mountain" in Chinese.
    The famous Zen master Dongshan Liangjie,
    pronounced Tozan Ryokai in Japanese, lived
    and taught here in the Tang Dynasty China.  
    From him derives the Caodong ("Soto" in
    Japanese) line of Zen.  
Dongshan Zen Temple

near Shangfu, Jiangxi, China

Dongshan Temple grounds nested
behind lush green fields and forested
mountains.
Dongshan's stupa in the back forest of
the temple.

Did you know?........

"Stupa" is the Indian word for a    
memorial of a religious person.

    "Pagoda" is a Portuguese  
    derived word for the same
    structure in Asia, usually storied,
    and holding relics of the man--
    his bones or ashes--and maybe
    other objects of veneration.

The Chinese call these tomb  
memorials "ta"--and can be small, or
large enough to walk in and climb
stairs to the various levels.
Painting of Dongshan "crossing the
stream"--from the Southern Song
Dynasty era in China(c.900-1200)
Dongshan Chan Si
Dongshan Zen stories-simplified Chinese

    A monk said to Dongshan,
    "Cold and heat descend upon us. How
    can we avoid them?"

    Dongshan said,
    "Why don't you go where there is no cold
    or heat?"

    The monk said,
    "Where is the place where there is no
    cold or heat? "

    Dongshan said,
    "When cold, let it be so cold that it kills
    you; when hot, let it be so hot that it kills
    you."
Maps of
Donshan Zen
Temple
location.
           oshobob  The Living Workshop                                         
                                                Zen Temples in China
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