Diary of Master Hong Yi - Three Variants

Author: Master Hongyi, Yu Kunlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Hongyi Master was originally named Chengxi as a child and later known as Wentao by his given name and Shutong by his courtesy name. After embracing Buddhism, he changed his name to Yanyin and took the title Hongyi. His ancestral home was in Pinghu, Zhejiang. Born on October 23, 1880, in a wealthy family in Lujiazhuang, Dongli District, Tianjin, he was the son of Li Shizhen, courtesy name Xiaolou, a jinshi (imperial scholar) in the fourth year of the Tongzhi era (1865) who served as a chief clerk in the Ministry of Personnel before resigning to engage in salt trade in Tianjin. Later, he monopolized the salt industry in and around Tianjin, becoming a prominent figure in the city. Hongyi Master's mother, Lady Wang Fengling, was originally a maid of Li Xiaolou and later became his third concubine. She had a basic understanding of literature and was deeply devoted to Buddhism, greatly influencing Hongyi Master's upbringing. When he was five, his father passed away, and the family began to decline. At the age of 19, due to the persecution of the "Six Gentlemen," he and his wife accompanied his mother to Shanghai to seek refuge, where they settled permanently. In his 26th year, his mother passed away, and the same year, he received his diploma from Nanyang Public College and went to Japan for studies. At the age of 31, the Qing government reformed the salt system, converting it to "official salt," which led to the gradual decline of the Li family. That year, after completing his studies in Western painting at Tokyo Art School and discontinuing his music studies, Hongyi Master returned to China and began his career in education. In July 1912, he was invited to Hangzhou by the principal of Zhejiang Normal School to teach. Over the following years, he trained a large number of educators in the field of art, including his notable students Liu Zhiping, Feng Zikai, Wu Mengfei, Li Hongliang, and Cai Gaiyin, all of whom were disciples of Master Hongyi. At the age of 38, in the early months of the year, he went to Huipao Temple on Daci Mountain in Hangzhou to practice fasting. The following year (1918), on the 19th of the eighth month, he was formally tonsured and vowed to study and propagate the precepts, reviving the long-lost Vinaya tradition. In modern Buddhism, there are two figures revered by their peers for their extraordinary talent and eccentricities—these are Su Manshu and Li Shutong (later known as Master Hongyi). Yet, Master Hongyi's life was even more colorful. He was skilled in literature and poetry, a pioneer in introducing Western painting, music, and drama to China, and famous for his roles as Madam Butterfly, the founder of Chunliu Society, and the advocate of new drama. In every field he entered, he achieved remarkable success, earning admiration from his peers. Just when he was at the height of his artistic career, he chose to withdraw from the vibrant world, renounce fame, and live a humble life with simple shoes and a staff. This dramatic change undoubtedly left much to ponder and mystery for later generations, casting a mystical aura over his life. This book includes three diaries written by Master Hongyi during his lifetime: "Diary of Fasting," "Diary of in Huian," and "Brief Records of in South Fujian during the Ren and Bing Years." These three parts were previously included in "Collected Works of Master Hongyi" and the magazine "Jueyong Qing" in the 1930s and 1940s but were never compiled as a separate volume. Additionally, it includes some speeches, maxims, and inscriptions by the master after his ordination, as well as several commemorative articles related to his activities after taking vows. Through these writings, the book attempts to present a true portrayal of Master Hongyi's dedication to propagating Buddhism, his rigorous study of the Vinaya, his revival and promotion of the "Nanfang Vinaya" tradition, which had been interrupted in China for over 700 years, and his status as the 11th patriarch of the Vinaya school in Buddhism. It also highlights his unwavering belief and resilience in the face of challenges, his high moral standards of strict self-discipline and leniency toward others, and his profound influence on the world.