Bodhisattva Monk, Poet Monk Su Manshu

Author: Liu Cheng/Sheng Xiaoling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: A poet who was inseparably linked with love throughout his life, and a monk who devoted his entire existence to the Buddha as his spiritual home. The Southern Society, a revolutionary party member, flower and wine, sugar monk! Su Manshu was a poet who was always intertwined with love and a monk who dedicated his life to the Buddha. His brief 35-year life journey was spent amidst the intense turmoil of Chinese society at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the early Republic. Chaos frequently arose, and Su Manshu was often intentionally or unintentionally drawn into the center or the periphery of the turbulent vortex, becoming a figure of public attention. Yet his inner emotional world was torn between his desire to distance himself from the boiling turmoil and his deep passion for the well-being of the people and the nation. Life is full of contradictions, and for Su Manshu, it seemed to have more practical reasons. However, his retreat into the tranquil spiritual sanctuary of Buddhism was not only to alleviate and resist the tangible and intangible pressures of the dark and turbid world but also to be driven by an inborn, inescapable fate. His pursuit of romantic encounters was an alternative way for Su Manshu to seek solace from the world: the dazzling lights, red wine, and graceful dances were intoxicating, and the understanding women he encountered brought him warmth and excitement that no one else could replace. In the eyes of this devout Buddhist "monk" or "master," the existence of prostitutes was perfectly natural; even when he was abroad or gravely ill, he still fondly recalled the charming young women of Shanghai. "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form," as Buddhism teaches. Did Su Manshu also use this as the guiding principle for his own character and actions? Due to his lifelong bachelorhood and the lack of familial love in his childhood, his interest and affection for women were a psychological compensation. Su Manshu's true nature was that of a poet, and only poetry could carry and resolve his genuine and abundant emotions. His poetry (and also his paintings) made his life more individualized and artistic. From the perspective of classical poetry, his style and tone were far removed from the middle and late Tang Dynasty but were influenced by Gong Zizhen. Some of his poems were filled with melancholy and sorrow, undoubtedly reflecting his unstable, wandering life and his contradictory emotions toward love and sexuality—both desiring to be apart yet drawn back again. The lack of bold and resolute spirit seemed to be at odds with his revolutionary will, but it actually embodied the unique introspective nature of Su Manshu's poetry. In other words, his writing style was a spiritual self-examination, a search for sorrow and longing.