This dissertation is an account of the legendary life and scholarships of Shu-tong Li (李叔同), Master Hong-Yi (弘一大師; 1880-1942), a scholarly generalist and genius recognized by academia in the history of modern Chinese culture in the early 20th century. As a pioneer of the New Culture Movement in China, he was the first to introduce Western oil paintings, pianos, and dramas into Chinese culture with an innovative spirit. Renowned for his calligraphy, poetry, music, wood engraving, and stage performance, he pioneered modern Chinese culture and art in many fields and was a model educator.
Li’s life began with secular life. From 1880 to 1918, he had been earnest and devoted himself to various artistic fields, during which was the period when his artistic and teaching career reached its peak. From 1918 to 1942, Li went from academic art and literature to religious practice, left all his family and friendships, renounced the secular world, and abandonedly entered the temple, equivalent to the Buddhist legend “holding the flower smiling,” finding his path to Buddhism. He became one of the four great monks in modern China, studying Buddhism, taking Flower Adornment as the mirror, practicing Four-part Vinaya, aiming to reach Pure Land, and advocating Buddhism. He was known as “the founder of the eleventh generation of rebuilding Nanshan Vinaya.”
Li changed from a talented and artistic young man to a student in Japan. Being a teacher after his return to China, then he became a Buddhist, eventually turning into an ascetic monk. He was an artist, educator, cultural celebrity, and eminent monk. In every role he played, he took an attitude of “taking everything seriously” and put it into practice.
This research discusses Li’s family background, the background of his time, the formation of his personality, the diligence and expansion of his learning and thinking, his experiences in Shanghai, the friendship with five sincere friends, his studying abroad in Japan in 1905 and his return to China in 1911. Through Li’s interactions with his colleague Mian-zun Xia, his friend Zi-kai Feng, and his student Zhi-ping Liu, this dissertation explores the direct and indirect reasons for becoming a monk.
Master Hong Yi had made outstanding contributions to Buddhist teachings and disciplines: “regulate the body with Confucianism and cultivate the mind with Buddhism,” opening a new page for Buddhism. Returned from the splendid, wonderful, and rich experiences to serenity, he manifested the noble values of life. It can be symbolized by “flowers fully blossom in spring; the bright full moon shines in the sky” to signify the state of his pure, flawless mind.
Looking back on the magnificent and brilliant life of Master Hong Yi and his time, this research takes a comprehensive biographical approach to explore: the background of Master Hong Yi’s family, his in-depth study of Chinese culture and art, the timelines of moving from Shanghai with his mother, his study in Japan, his return to China to teach, his renunciation of desire, his entry into Buddhism, and his Buddhism attainments, for a thorough elaboration.
This dissertation is intended to summarize the splendid and marvelous life of Master Hong Yi, his brilliance of virtuous personality, and his outstanding achievements in the study of art and the practice of Buddhism. As a result, readers will be introspecting, get inspired, motivated, and endow greater meaning and value to every life.