Bodhisattva Monk, Poet Monk – Su Manshu

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Features: A poet who was inseparably tied to love throughout his life, and a monk who devoted his entire existence to Buddhism. The Southern Society, 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 Buddhism. His brief 35-year life journey was spent amidst the intense turmoil of late Qing and early Republican China. 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 chaotic reality 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 escape and resist the tangible and intangible pressures of the dark and turbid world but also to be driven by an innate and 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 justified; even when he was abroad or gravely ill, he still couldn’t help but speak fondly of the charming young women in 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 form of self-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) gave his life an individualized and artistic existence. From the perspective of classical poetry’s lineage, his style and tone were far removed from the middle and late Tang Dynasty but were instead influenced by Gong Zizhen. Some of his poems were filled with melancholy and sorrow, undoubtedly reflecting his life of constant wandering and also revealing the contradictions of his emotional entanglement with love. 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 grievances.