Ch: Deshan. The Chinese priest Deshan Xuanjian (Jp: Tokuzan Senkan 徳山宣鑑, 780-865) who helped preserve Chan 禅 (Jp: Zen) after the anti-Buddhist persecution of Tang dynasty Emperor Wuzong (Jp: Busō 武宗, 814-46) in 845. The Wumenguan (Jp: Mumonkan 無門関) describes an incident in which Tokuzan entered the temple dining hall carrying a bowl, only to be rebuked by a young monk for arriving before the sounding of the dinner bell. Several young monks discussed the incident and concluded that it indicated Tokuzan's lack of enlightenment. The next day, Tokuzan delivered a tremendous lecture convincing the skeptical young monks that he had indeed attained enlightenment.
Paintings of Tokuzan include conventional priest portraits *chinsō 頂相, as well as paintings of groups of famous priests in which he is often depicted carrying a bowl.