The way The "goal" Background Chinese texts Classical Post-classical Contemporary Zen in Japan Seon in Korea Thiền in Vietnam Western Zen Yongming Yanshou (Chinese: 永明延壽; pinyin: Yǒngmíng Yánshòu; Wade–Giles: Yung-ming Yen-shou; Japanese: 永明延寿 or Yōmyō Enju; Korean: Yǒngmyǒng Yǒnsu; Vietnamese: Vĩnh Minh Diên Thọ) (904–976) was a prominent Buddhist monk during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and early Song Dynasty in China.

Yanshou promoted a holistic and syncretic teaching which saw the sudden enlightenment focused practice of Chan as fully compatible with the myriad skillful means of Chinese Buddhism (such as rituals, bodhisattva precepts, worship, nianfo and cultivation of good deeds).

However, most of this activity took place in the north of China, while Yanshou resided in the independent Wuyue kingdom of the south, which was relatively stable during this time.

Furthermore, unlike the trouble Buddhism faced in the north, the ruling Qian family heavily patronized Buddhist and other religious institutions.

[3] Yongming Yanshou is best known for promoting a synthesis of the diverse teachings of the Chinese Buddhist schools of his time, including Chan, Tiantai, Huayan, Weishi, and Pure Land.

[4][5] A major work of Yongming Yanshou is the massive one hundred fascicle Zōngjìng lù (Record of the Source Mirror, 宗鏡錄 T.2016), which discusses Buddhist theory and practice by drawing on numerous influences from various schools and sutras.

According Welter, Yanshou was an inclusive and transsectarian “advocate of bodhisattva practice”, "whose main interest was promoting Mahayana Buddhism, free of sectarian intent.

If one has eyes but no feet, how can one reach the pure, refreshing pond [i.e., nirvāṇa] If one obtains the truth but forgets expedients, how can one soar to the spontaneous, free land?

[12] According to Yanshou, practices like chanting sutras, reciting the Buddha's name (nianfo) and cultivating merit do not contradict the goal of Chan (realizing one's true nature).

For Yanshou, while Chan seeks sudden awakening to the true nature of all things, it does not reject the conventional functioning of the essence, which includes all the myriad good deeds and religious practices.

Perhaps the most popular text which discusses Yongming Yanshou's view of "dual-practice" is a poem called “Four Alternatives” (sì liào jiǎn 四料揀): Having Chan but lacking the Pure Land, nine out of ten will stray from the path; when the realm of the aggregates appears before them, they will instantly follow it.

For those with mediocre or inferior abilities, we provisionally make them contemplate the Buddha’s physical body to anchor wayward thoughts, using what is external to reveal what is internal.

Nonetheless, recent Western scholarship recognizes his importance, and he has been an enduring influential figure in the eyes of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese branches of Zen.