The Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp

The Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp (traditional Chinese: 景德傳燈錄; simplified Chinese: 景德传灯录; pinyin: Jǐngdé Chuándēnglù; Wade–Giles: Ching-te Ch'uan teng lu; Japanese: Keitoku Dentō-roku), often referred to as The Transmission of the Lamp, is a 30 volume work consisting of putative biographies of the Chan (or Zen) patriarchs and other prominent Buddhist monks. It was produced in the Song dynasty by Shi Daoyuan (simplified Chinese: 释道原; traditional Chinese: 釋道原; pinyin: Shì Dàoyuán; Wade–Giles: Shih Tao-Yüen). Other than the Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall, it represents the first appearance of "encounter dialogues" in the Chan tradition, which in turn are the antecedents of the famous kōan stories.

The Transmission of the Lamp

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Zen Buddhism
Main articles Zen Chan Buddhism Vietnamese Thiền Korean Seon Japanese Zen Zen in the United States
Persons Chán in China Classical Bodhidharma Huineng (Enō) Mazu Daoyi (Baso) Shitou Xiqian (Kisen) Dongshan Liangjie (Tozan) Xuefeng Yicun (Seppo) Linji Yixuan (Rinzai) Dahui Zonggao (Tahui) Contemporary Xu Yun Zen in Japan Dōgen Hakuin Ekaku Seon in Korea Taego Bou Jinul Daewon Seongcheol Thiền in Vietnam Thích Nhất Hạnh Zen / Chán in the USA D. T. Suzuki Hakuun Yasutani Taizan Maezumi Shunryū Suzuki Hsuan Hua Seungsahn Category: Zen Buddhists
Doctrines Zen and Sutras Doctrinal background of Zen Buddha-nature Yogacara Śūnyatā Bodhisattva
Traditions Dharma transmission Zen lineage charts Zen ranks and hierarchy Zen organisation and institutions Zen Narratives
Awakening Kenshō Satori Sudden Enlightenment Shikantaza
Teachings Ten Ox-Herding Pictures Five ranks of Tozan Three mysterious Gates Four Ways of Knowing
Practice Zazen / Shikantaza Kinhin Koan practice Hua Tou Samu Ōryōki Raihai Buddhist chant Issatsu
Schools Sanjiejiao Oxhead school East Mountain Teaching Heze school Hongzhou school Five Houses of Chán Tibetan Chan Trúc Lâm Plum Village Tradition Order of Interbeing Jogye Order Kwan Um School of Zen Taego Order Rinzai school Sōtō school Ōbaku school Sanbo Kyodan White Plum Asanga Ordinary Mind Zen School Zen Peacemakers
Related schools Mādhyamaka Yogācāra Huayan Tiantai Pure Land Buddhism

The word Jingde (景德), the first two characters of the title, refers to the Song dynasty reign name, which dates the work to between 1004 and 1007 CE. It is a primary source of information for the history of Chan Buddhism in China, although most scholars interpret the biographies as largely hagiography. The lives of the Zen masters and disciples are systematically listed, beginning with the first seven buddhas (Gautama Buddha is seventh in this list). The "Lamp" in the title refers to the "Dharma", the teachings of the Buddhism. A total of 1701 biographies are listed in the book. Volumes 1 to 3 are devoted to the history of Indian Buddhism, and the history of Buddhism in China starts in chapter 4 with Bodhidharma. Volume 29 is a collection of gathas, and volume 30 is a collection of songs and other devotional material.