Chan Master Weizheng (757–843 CE) was a renowned eminent monk during the Tang Dynasty. He initially studied sutra recitation under Master Quancheng at Yanhe Temple in his home province, later receiving Dharma transmission from Chan Master Puji on Songshan Mountain(Mount Song), thus becoming a key lineage holder of the Northern School of Chan Buddhism.
Known for his strict adherence to monastic discipline and profound cultivation, Weizheng taught at Mount Taiyi (Zhongnan Mountain), where his lectures drew overflowing crowds of scholars, reflecting his exceptional Buddhist scholarship and pedagogical prowess.
During the Dahe era (823–825 CE), Emperor Wenzong’s obsession with clams led coastal officials to seize the opportunity to exploit fishermen, plunging coastal communities into profound suffering.
One day, a clam resisted opening. Intrigued, the emperor prayed with incense — revealing flesh resembling a Bodhisattva, complete in form and grace.
Wenzong enshrined the clam in a sandalwood box, draped it in silk, and sent it to Xingshan Temple for veneration.
He asked ministers: “What omen is this?” A counselor suggested: “Summon Master Weizheng of Taiyi Mountain — he knows Buddha’s ways.”
When Weizheng arrived, Wenzong inquired. The master explained:
“Phenomena never manifest randomly. This clam-Bodhisattva awakens Your Majesty’s faith. As sūtras say: ‘When beings need liberation in a certain form, Bodhisattvas manifest accordingly to teach.’”
Wenzong pressed: “The form appeared, but where is the teaching?”
Weizheng countered: “Do you deem this ordinary or extraordinary? Do you believe?”
The emperor: “It’s wondrous — I believe utterly.”
Weizheng declared: “Then Your Majesty has already heard the Dharma.”
Emperor Wenzong’s heart overflowed with joy.
Philosophical Notes:
Dharma in the Mundane:
The clam as Bodhisattva symbolizes truth hidden in everyday objects. Weizheng teaches: Awakening requires not miracles, but eyes that see holiness in garbage.
Faith as Hearing:
Wenzong’s “I believe utterly” became the ultimate teaching. Weizheng exposed: True Dharma isn’t spoken — it’s realized when doubt dissolves into unwavering trust.
Imperial Delusion vs. Zen Clarity:
The emperor sought grand omens, while the master pointed to present-moment wonder: “Your belief is the Buddha’s voice.”
Weizheng turned a seafood craving into a satori trigger; Revealed that the clam’s silence thundered louder than any sutra.
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