Yongjia Xuanjue

Yongjia Xuanjue (Chinese: 永嘉玄覺; pinyin: Yòngjiā Xuānjué; Wade–Giles: Yung Chia; Japanese: 永嘉玄覚 or Yōka Genkaku; Korean: 영가현각 or Yŏngga Hyŏn'gak; Vietnamese: Vĩnh Gia Huyền Giác), also known as Yongjia Zhenjue (Chinese: 永嘉真覺; pinyin: Yòngjiā Zhēnjué), was a Chan/Zen and Tiantai Buddhist monk who lived during the Tang dynasty. The name Yongjia is derived from the city of his birth, which is now called Wenzhou. He is also known by his nickname "The Overnight Guest" because of his first encounter with his teacher, Huineng. On a visit to Caoxi (漕溪), where Huineng's Nanhua Temple is located, Yongjia was convinced to stay just one night, during which his enlightenment was acknowledged. He supposedly died while meditating in 713. He is best remembered today as the author of the Song of Enlightenment (證道歌, Chinese: Zhengdao ge, Japanese: Shodoka) This work remains popular in contemporary Chan/Zen practice.