Tiantai Buddhism underwent a revival during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD-1127 AD) and exerted considerable influence in the Wuyue region.Su Shi (1037 AD-1101 AD) served twice in Hangzhou, where he maintained close associations with monks of the Tiantai Buddhist tradition.His interactions with the highly literate Tiantai poet-monks enabled him to temporarily distance himself from officialdom, appreciate the serene beauty of nature, and derive aesthetic pleasure from it.His association with eminent Tiantai monks who were accomplished in both Buddhist learning and teaching helped him achieve inner balance, cultivate peace of mind, and gain insights into the wisdom of life.Key Tiantai concepts, including zhiguan (止观calming and contemplation) and xingju (性具the inherent possession of all phenomena), exerted an influence on Su Shi and, in turn, shaped aspects of his poetic and literary writing.Inspired by Ch’an meditation and tea practice, particularly the principle articulated by Chuqian (处谦1011 AD-1075 AD) that mastery is “attained in the mind and manifested through the hand,” Su Shi developed a deeper understanding of the art of literary composition.The Tiantai doctrine of “three thousand realms in a single thought” (yinian sanqian) also prompted Northern Song literati, represented by Su Shi, to attach greater importance to the mind, thereby influencing both their conceptions and practices of literary and artistic creation.