Shitou Xiqian - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Shitou Xiqian (700-790 CE), also known as Shitou Xiqian or Master Shitou, stands as one of the most influential figures in Chan (Zen) Buddhism, whose teachings and poetry continue to shape Buddhist thought and practice. His name, literally meaning "Stone Head," derives from his residence on a large rock at Nanyue Temple in Hunan Province, where he established what would become known as the Stone Head Dharma Gate.
First appearing in Tang Dynasty records, Shitou emerged during a pivotal period of Chan Buddhism's development in China. As a young monk, he studied under the Sixth Patriarch Huineng's successor, Qingyuan Xingsi, during an era marked by intense philosophical debates and the crystallization of distinctly Chinese Buddhist approaches. The historical context of eighth-century China, with its flourishing cultural exchange along the Silk Road and dynamic intellectual climate, provided fertile ground for Shitou's innovative theological contributions.
Shitou's most enduring legacy stems from his composition of two seminal poems: "The Harmony of Difference and Sameness" (Cantongqi) and "The Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage" (Caoange). These works masterfully articulate the fundamental unity underlying apparent duality, a concept that would profoundly influence both the Caodong and Sōtō Zen traditions. His teaching style, characterized by paradoxical statements and natural metaphors, gave rise to numerous koans and established a distinctive approach to Buddhist practice that emphasized direct experience over theoretical understanding.
In contemporary Buddhist discourse, Shitou's emphasis on environmental harmony and the integration of apparent opposites resonates strongly with modern ecological and philosophical discussions. His metaphor of the grass roof hermitage continues to inspire minimalist architecture and sustainable living practices. The question of how to reconcile unity and diversity, so central to Shitou's thought, remains remarkably relevant to current debates about identity, interconnectedness, and environmental ethics. As modern practitioners and scholars continue to mine his works for insight, Shitou's teachings reveal new layers of meaning, demonstrating the timeless relevance of his vision of reality as simultaneously differentiated and unified.