abstract:Mǎzŭ Dàoyī (709–788) (Chn: 馬祖道一, WG: Ma-tsu Kiangsi Tao-yi, Jpn: Baso Dö-itsu) was an influential abbot of the Chinese Ch'an School (Chn: Ch'an-tsung}}) of Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty. His teaching style of "strange words and extraordinary actions" became paradigmatic Zen lore.
Mazu-Daoyi, therepresentativeof Hongzhou Zen Buddhism, proposes that "Taois an ordinary state of mind", and he encourages people to awake indailylife to the nature ofBuddhafor moksa.