Zhiyan

thumb|Chinese carving of Zhiyan Zhiyan () (602–668) was a prominent monk of the Tang dynasty who is considered the second patriarch of the Chinese Buddhist Huayan school. He was a disciple of the foundational figure Dushun (杜順) and later became the mentor to both Fazang (法藏), who systematized Huayan doctrines, and the Korean monk Uisang (義湘). During his lifetime, Zhiyan was often referred to by honorific titles such as “Master Zhixiang” (至相大師) and “The Venerable of Yunhua” (雲華尊者).

== Life == Zhiyan was born in the second year of the Renshou era under Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty (602 CE). His father was Zhao Jing, who served as an assistant official in Shen Prefecture. In 613 CE, Zhiyan began his training under Dushun at the early age of twelve, entering study at Zhixiang Monastery (至相寺) located on Mount Zhongnan (終南山). At the age of twenty, he received full monastic ordination and thereafter devoted himself to rigorous study of key Buddhist texts, including the Four-Part Vinaya (四分律), Abhidharmakośa (倶舍論), Satyasiddhi-śāstra (成實論), Daśabhūmika-śāstra (十地論), and the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra (涅槃經). Over the years, he attained a deep and wide-ranging understanding of Mahāyāna Buddhist doctrines, focusing his studies on Chinese Yogācāra, including the Dilun tradition of Ratnamati and Huiyuan as well as Paramartha's Shelun school and Xuanzang's new Chengweshilun tradition.