Shi Yuanjing 釋元淨 1011-1091

Dharma name Biancai 辯才, became a Buddhist monk at the young age of ten and spent the entirety of his life in Hangzhou. Living as a recluse in Longjing Mountain in his old age, he is allegedly the first person to grow tea in the area. A representative figure of the <>wenzichan 文字禪 (literary Zen) school in the Northern Song dynasty, he infused his poems with meditative and philosophical thoughts. He was highly respected by his disciples and was friends with renowned intellectuals of his time.

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