Yicheng
一诚
TitleVenerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China
Personal
Born
Zhou Yunsheng (周云生)

(1927-02-02)February 2, 1927
Wangcheng County, Changsha, Hunan, China
Died21 December 2017(2017-12-21) (aged 90)[1]
Zhenru Chan Temple, Jiangxi, China
ReligionChan Buddhism
NationalityChinese
SchoolWeiyang school
Linji school
Lineage10th generation of Weiyang school
45th generation of Linji school
Notable work(s)Tolerant
An Usual-Heart
World Is Your Own, Nothing To Do with Others
Orography of Baofengshan
Alma materResearch Institute of Buddhist Studies
Dharma namesYicheng (一诚)
Changmiao (常妙)
Yanxin (衍心)
Organization
TempleZhenru Chan Temple
Xixin Chan Temple
Fayuan Temple
Senior posting
TeacherHsu Yun
Period in office2002-2010
PredecessorZhao Puchu
SuccessorChuanyin

Yicheng (simplified Chinese: 一诚; traditional Chinese: 一誠; pinyin: Yīchéng; 2 February 1927 – 21 December 2017) was a Chinese Buddhist monk, Chan master and religious leader.[2][3] Yicheng was best known as Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China.

Early life

Yicheng was born Zhou Yunsheng (周云生) into a family of farming background in Wangcheng County, Changsha, Hunan, during the Republic of China.

He studied rockwork and architecture under his father when he was ten years old.

Religious life

At age 15, he paid a religious homage to Wushan Temple (乌山寺) and wrote a Gatha when he stood in front of the statue of Gautama Buddha.

In June 1949, Yicheng took refuge in the Three Jewels under master Mingxin (明心) in Xixin Chan Temple, and received complete ordination under Xuyun in the winter of 1956, as the 10th generation of the Guiyang school and the 45th generation of the Linji school, in Nanhua Temple, Shaoguan, south China's Guangdong province.[4]

In 1956, he entered the Research Institute of Buddhist Studies, which was founded by Hsu Yun and where Haideng (海灯) taught.

In 1966, the Cultural Revolution was launched by Mao Zedong, he was transferred to a reclamation farm in Yunjushan as a farmer, until the end of 1978. According to the national policy of free religious belief, he regained his identity as a monk.[5]

In the Spring of 1979, he resided in Zhenru Chan Temple, where he served as its abbot since 1985.

In 1986, Yicheng became the president of the Buddhist Association of Yongxiu County and the president of the Buddhist Association of Jiangxi.

In September 2002, he was elected Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China, a position he held for almost eight years.[6]

In September 2003, he served as abbot of Fayuan Temple.

Yicheng won the Confucius Peace Prize in 2013.[7]

Yicheng died in Zhenru Chan Temple, Jiangxi, on December 21, 2017.[8][9]

Works

Chinese character "福" (fú, "blessing"), written by Yicheng.

References

  1. ^ 中国佛教协会名誉会长一诚长老圆寂 世寿91岁(图). sina (in Chinese). 2017-12-21.
  2. ^ 一诚法师：从湖南走向世界的大德高僧 [Master Yicheng, a world class celebrity from Hunan]. iFeng (in Chinese). 2014-08-13.
  3. ^ 当代高僧一诚长老印象记：禅心 佛心 本份心. takungpao (in Chinese). 2013-10-15.
  4. ^ Ouyang Zhen (2013-10-17). 一诚法师与江西佛教 [Master Yicheng and Jiangxi Buddhism]. Tencent (in Chinese).
  5. ^ 虚云老和尚的侍者——一诚长老 [Hsu Yun's follower: Yicheng]. ifeng (in Chinese). 2010-03-26.
  6. ^ 中国佛协推选一诚法师为会长(附图) [Chinese Buddhist Association elected master Yicheng as president]. sina (in Chinese). 2005-08-03.
  7. ^ 一诚法师荣获第四届孔子和平奖 [Master Yicheng won the 4th Confucius Peace Prize]. 163.com (in Chinese). 2013-10-30.
  8. ^ 中国佛教协会名誉会长一诚长老在江西真如禅寺示寂. 163.com (in Chinese). 2017-12-21.
  9. ^ 中国佛教协会名誉会长一诚长老安详示寂 世寿91岁. iFeng (in Chinese). 2017-12-21.

External links

Buddhist titles Preceded byZhao Puchu Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China 2002–2010 Succeeded byChuanyin
Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China
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