How did the Song dynasty help Chan become a major form of Chinese Buddhism?

During the Song dynasty (960–1279), Chan (known as Zen in the West) solidified its position as a major form of Chinese Buddhism through several key developments:

• Official Status: The Song dynasty fostered a more inclusive version of Chan that became associated with nearly all official state-sponsored Buddhist monasteries, establishing it as the primary form of Chinese Buddhism.1
• Literary Sophistication: During this period, Chan underwent significant growth in its literature and spiritual cultivation. Monks developed sophisticated "public-case" literature, such as The Blue Cliff Record and The Gateless Barrier, which remain foundational texts for students today.1
• Cultural Influence: Chan became highly influential among the cultured elite, particularly through the arts. Chan artists utilized spontaneous, deft brushwork in landscape painting to evoke insights into the nature of reality, creating a lasting impact on Chinese aesthetics.23
• Institutional Structure: The school successfully balanced its emphasis on sudden awakening with strict monastic discipline, placing the experiences of practitioners under the supervision of senior monks.1