View source for Hsing Yun

{{short description|Taiwanese Buddhist monk (1927–2023)}}
{{redirect|Xing Yun|the politician|Xing Yun (politician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| native name        = {{nobold|星雲}}
| native_name_lang   = zh-hant
| image              = 星雲大師2009IBPS.jpg
| caption            = Hsing Yun in 2009
| birth_name         = Lee Kuo-shen ({{lang|zh-hant|李國深}})
| dharma_name        = {{ubl|Jinjue ({{lang|zh|今覺}}) | Wuche ({{lang|zh|悟徹}})}}
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|df=yes|1927|8|19}}
| birth_place        = [[Yangzhou]], Jiangsu, [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2023|2|5|1927|8|19}}
| death_place        = [[Fo Guang Shan Monastery]], Dashu, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| nationality        = Taiwanese
| religion           = [[Buddhism]]
| school             = {{ubl|Linji school|Fo Guang Shan Lineage}}
| lineage            = 48th Generation
| title              = Venerable Master (大師)
| location           = 
| temple             = [[Fo Guang Shan]]
| education          = Qixia Academy of the School of Vinaya
| occupation         = 
| known_for          = Father of the modern [[Humanistic Buddhism]] movement in Taiwan
| teacher            = Shi Zhikai ({{lang|zh|釋志開}})
| reincarnation of   = 
| predecessor        = 
| present_post       = 
| successor          = 
| students           = 
| website            = 
| module             = {{Chinese |child=yes|t=星雲|s=星云|p=Xīngyún|w=Hsing-yün|bpmf=ㄒㄧㄥ ㄩㄣˊ|gr=Shingyun|poj=Seng-hûn|altname=Lee Kuo-shen|t2=李國深|s2=李国深|p2=Lǐ Guóshēn|bpmf2=ㄌㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊㄕㄣ|gr2=Lii Gwoshen|w2=Li3 Kuo2-shen1}}
}}

'''Hsing Yun''' ({{zh|t=星雲|p=Xīng Yún}}; 19 August 1927 – 5 February 2023) was a Chinese [[bhikkhu|Buddhist monk]], teacher, and philanthropist based in Taiwan. He was the founder of the [[Fo Guang Shan]] Buddhist monastic order as well as the [[Upāsaka|layperson]]-based [[Buddha's Light International Association]]. Hsing Yun was considered a major proponent of [[Humanistic Buddhism]] and one of the most influential teachers of modern [[Buddhism in Taiwan|Taiwanese Buddhism]]. In Taiwan, he was popularly referred to as one of the "[[Four Heavenly Kings (Taiwan)|Four Heavenly Kings]]" of Taiwanese Buddhism, along with his contemporaries: Master [[Sheng-yen]] of [[Dharma Drum Mountain]], Master [[Cheng Yen]] of [[Tzu Chi]] and Master [[Wei Chueh]] of [[Chung Tai Shan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://info.taiwan.net.tw/tourbusE/december_page1.html|title=Come to Taiwan, Return with good memories|publisher=Info.taiwan.net.tw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227183910/http://info.taiwan.net.tw/tourbusE/december_page1.html|archive-date=27 February 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=15 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Shuai|first1=J. J.|last2=Chen|first2=H. C.|last3=Chang|first3=C. H.|title=2010 International Computer Symposium (ICS2010) |chapter=Visualization of the Taiwaness Buddhism web based on social network analysis |date=1 December 2010|pages=187–191|doi=10.1109/COMPSYM.2010.5685523|isbn=978-1-4244-7639-8|s2cid=18858823}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wvGWJcQ3ZX0C&q=four+heavenly+kings+|title=2600 Years of Sambuddhatva: Global Journey of Awakening|date=1 January 2011|isbn=9789559349334|pages=282|language=en|access-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410133539/https://books.google.com/books?id=wvGWJcQ3ZX0C&dq=four+heavenly+kings+taiwan+tzu+chi&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=four+heavenly+kings+|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live|last1=Abeynayake|first1=Oliver|last2=Tilakaratne|first2=Asanga|publisher=Ministry of Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka }}</ref>

== Biography ==
Hsing Yun was born Lee Kuo-shen ([[pinyin]]: ''Lǐ Guóshēn'')  in 1927 in Jiangdu village (modern day [[Yangzhou]]), Jiangsu Province in the [[Beiyang government|Republic of China]].  Hsing Yun's first exposure to Buddhism came from his grandmother, a practicing Buddhist and meditator. Just prior to monastic life, he had accompanied his mother to [[Nanjing]] to search for his missing father but they were unsuccessful.<ref name="kendarinews">{{cite news|date=2023-02-06 |title=The death of the founder of Fo Guang Shan, Master Hsing Yun at the age of 97. |url=https://kendarinews.com/2023/02/06/wafatnya-pendiri-fo-guang-shan-master-hsing-yun-pada-usia-97-tahun/2/ |work=Kendari News. |access-date=2023-09-24}}</ref> In 1938 he entered the monastic life at the age of 12, ordaining as a novice at [[Qixia Temple]] under Zhikai, where he received the novice name Jinjue. He received the [[Upasampadā| upasampadā vinaya]] precepts under Ruoshun at the same temple in 1941 and received the dharma name Wuche.<ref name="kendarinews"/>

Shortly after taking the full precepts, Hsing Yun was first inspired by Buddhist modernism in 1945 while studying at Jiaoshan Buddhist College. There he learned about Buddhist teacher [[Taixu|Taixu's]] calls for reform in Buddhism and the Sangha. At a certain point, he adopted the name "Hsing Yun"—"[[nebula]]" in Chinese—to reflect his new philosophy.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5O32wwY6uokC&q=hsing+yun&pg=PA283|title=Wild Geese: Buddhism in Canada|last1=Harding|first1=John S.|last2=Hori|first2=Victor Sōgen|last3=Soucy|first3=Alexander|date=29 March 2010|publisher=McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP|isbn=9780773591080|pages=282|language=en}}</ref> He fled mainland China to Taiwan in 1949 following the communist victory in the civil war but was arrested along with several other Buddhist monastics. Hsing Yun and the others were released after 23 days, and he then spent the next several years developing a large following and founding numerous temples. In 1966, Hsing Yun bought some land in Kaohsiung and started building a large monastery. After partial completion, the temple opened in 1967 and would later become the headquarters of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist organization.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Schak|first1=David|last2=Hsiao|first2=Hsin-Huang Michael|date=1 June 2005|title=Taiwan's Socially Engaged Buddhist Groups|journal=China Perspectives|language=en|volume=2005|issue=3|issn=2070-3449|doi=10.4000/chinaperspectives.2803|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Hsing Yun's Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order is a proponent of [[humanistic Buddhism|"Humanistic" Buddhism]],<ref name="ccbs">Richard L. Kimball (2000). [http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JHB/jhb94214.htm Humanistic Buddhism as Conceived and Interpreted by Grand Master Hsing Yun of Fo Guang Shan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221823/http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JHB/jhb94214.htm |date=28 June 2011 }}. ''Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism'' '''1''': 1–52.</ref><ref name=":0" /> and Hsing Yun himself was the [[abbot]] of the order until his resignation in 1985.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060826113549/http://www.fgs.org.tw/english/organization/abbotship/abbotship1.htm Fo Guang Shan – Abbotship]. Archived 26 August 2006.</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5O32wwY6uokC&q=hsing+yun+resign+1985&pg=PA283|title=Wild Geese: Buddhism in Canada|last1=Harding|first1=John S.|last2=Hori|first2=Victor Sōgen|last3=Soucy|first3=Alexander|date=29 March 2010|publisher=McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP|isbn=9780773591080|pages=283|language=en}}</ref> Following his resignation, Hsing Yun founded the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) as a layperson based Humanistic Buddhist organization.<ref name=":1" />

Fo Guang Shan eventually grew to become one of the most significant social actors in Taiwan; the organization has established several schools and colleges,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B105DQAAQBAJ&q=fo+guang+shan+university&pg=PA406|title=Encyclopedia of Global Religion|last1=Juergensmeyer|first1=Mark|last2=Roof|first2=Wade Clark|date=2012|publisher=SAGE|isbn=9780761927297|pages=406|language=en}}</ref> and runs orphanages, homes for the elderly, and drug rehabilitation programs in prisons. Fo Guang Shan has also been involved in some international relief efforts.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBmpT_H3ZFUC&q=tzu+chi+disaster+relief&pg=SA9-PA364|title=Community Disaster Recovery and Resiliency: Exploring Global Opportunities and Challenges|last1=Miller|first1=DeMond S.|last2=Rivera|first2=Jason David|date=19 April 2016|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781420088236|pages=452|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last1=Schak|first1=David|last2=Hsiao|first2=Hsin-Huang Michael|date=1 June 2005|title=Taiwan's Socially Engaged Buddhist Groups|journal=China Perspectives|volume=2005|language=en|issue=59|issn=1996-4617|doi=10.4000/chinaperspectives.2803|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Fo Guang Shan entered [[China|mainland China]] in the early 21st century, focusing more on charity and Chinese cultural revival rather than Buddhist propagation in order to avoid conflict with the Chinese government, which opposes proselytizing. Fo Guang Shan's presence in China increased under the premiership of General Secretary [[Xi Jinping]] after he started a program to revive traditional Chinese faiths.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/china-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html |url-access=subscription |title=Is a Buddhist Group Changing China? Or Is China Changing It?|last=Johnson|first=Ian|date=24 June 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=25 June 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131042630/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/china-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html|archive-date=31 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Hsing Yun, his goal in mainland China was to work with the mainland government to rebuild China's culture following the destruction of the [[Cultural Revolution]], rather than promote Buddhism in the mainland.<ref name=":2" />

The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan in [[Kaohsiung]] is currently the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. On top of that, the order has a network of over 300 branches throughout Taiwan,<ref name=":12"/> as well as several branches worldwide in at least fifty countries,<ref name=":02"/> including the United States, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil.<ref name="kendarinews"/>

== Politics ==
[[File:Hsing Yun and President Ma Ying-jeou 20100814.jpg|thumb|Hsing Yun with President [[Ma Ying-jeou]] in 2010; Hsing Yun was a supporter of the [[Kuomintang]] and gave his endorsement to Ma in the 2008 presidential election.]]
In Taiwan, Hsing Yun was notable for his activity in political affairs, particularly as a supporter of the [[One-China policy]] as well as government legislation supported by the [[Kuomintang]], and was criticized for his views by those in favor of [[Taiwan independence movement|Taiwan independence]] and by religious figures, as being overtly political and "considerably far afield from traditional monastic concerns".<ref name=asia>(4 June 2008). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150915113718/http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/a-buddhist-master-straddles-the-taiwan-straits/ A Buddhist master straddles the Taiwan Straits: Hsing Yun seeks to make reunification Buddhism's sixth precept – at least for Beijing]". ''Asia Sentinel''. Archived 15 September 2015.</ref><ref name=loa>{{cite news |author=Loa Iok-sin |date=31 March 2009 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/03/31/2003439813 |title=Taiwan Buddhist master: 'No Taiwanese |work=Taipei Times |page=1 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402120506/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/03/31/2003439813 |archive-date=2 April 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref> During the [[2008 Republic of China presidential election|2008 presidential election]], Hsing Yun publicly endorsed Kuomintang candidate [[Ma Ying-jeou]].<ref>{{cite news | script-title=zh:意在言外 星雲籲幫馬找工作 | publisher=民視新聞 | date=26 December 2011 | url=http://news.ftv.com.tw/NewsContent.aspx?sno=2008126U10M1&ntype=class | title={title} | access-date=29 August 2018 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713163825/http://news.ftv.com.tw/NewsContent.aspx?sno=2008126U10M1&ntype=class | archive-date=13 July 2012 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> During the second [[World Buddhist Forum]] in 2009, Hsing Yun asserted that there are "no Taiwanese" and that Taiwanese "are Chinese".<ref name=loa/> During the 2016 presidential election campaign, Hsing Yun caused considerable comment when he compared [[Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]] candidate [[Tsai Ing-wen]] to the Chinese goddess [[Mazu]], commenting that those traits would probably help Tsai be elected president, which she eventually was. To dispel rumors of party switching, Hsing Yun publicly gave his endorsement to KMT candidate [[Hung Hsiu-chu]], who eventually withdrew from the race.<ref>{{cite news | script-title=zh:星雲大師：蔡英文是媽祖婆 會保護台灣 | publisher=自由時報 | date=12 September 2015 | url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1442481 | title={title} | access-date=9 February 2023| df=dmy-all }}</ref> Despite his Kuomintang partisanship, Hsing Yun was generally known to be respected by politicians of both parties.<ref>{{cite news | script-title=zh:赴佛光山悼念星雲法師 陳菊：感謝他貢獻讓社會更和諧 | publisher=中時新聞 | date=7 February 2023 | url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20230207002309-260407?chdtv | title={title} | access-date=9 February 2023 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> 

He encouraged reconciliation between China and the Dalai Lama,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/401032 | title= Taiwan monk urges China to befriend Dalai Lama| date= 31 January 2009}}</ref> but tried hard to avoid causing rifts between him and his organisation and the Chinese government.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandler|first=Stuart|title = Establishing a Pure Land on Earth: The Foguang Buddhist Perspective on Modernization and Globalization|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|series = Topics in Contemporary Buddhism |year =2004|pages= 258–259}}</ref>

== Illness and death ==
On 26 December 2011, Hsing Yun suffered a minor [[ischemic stroke]], his second in that year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/12/28/2003521827 |title=Taipei Times: Hsing Yun recovering after stroke, 26 December 2011 |date=28 December 2011 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905005748/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/12/28/2003521827 |archive-date=5 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In his older years Hsing Yun began suffering from numerous health issues, including diabetes and near blindness.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/hsing-yun-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html |url-access=subscription |title=A Buddhist Leader on China's Spiritual Needs|last1=Johnson|first1=Ian|date=24 June 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 July 2017|last2=Wu|first2=Adam|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126072513/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/hsing-yun-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html|archive-date=26 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Hsi Lai Temple Great Hero Hall following Hsing Yun death.jpg|thumb|right|A memorial altar to Hsing Yun at [[Hsi Lai Temple]] after his death]]
Hsing Yun died at his residence in Fo Guang Shan monastery on the afternoon of 5 February 2023, after years of unstable health. He was 95 (97 according to [[East Asian age reckoning]]), and had spent 85 years of his life as a monastic.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

The next day his body was placed in a seated position inside a dome-like container in the shape of the [[Parinirvana Stupa]] in Kushinagar, India. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=星雲大師「真身封龕」畫面曝光 弟子24小時守靈7天 |url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/amp/life/2034611 |website=www.news.tvbs.com.tw |language=zh-TW}}</ref> His body was placed upon a dais inside the Cloud Dwelling Building where he lay in state for seven days while visitors paid their respects. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=星雲大師圓寂！ 信眾.陳其邁前往雲居樓弔唁 |url=https://news.cts.com.tw/cts/society/202302/202302062139223.html |website=www.news.cts.com.tw |language=zh-TW}}</ref>

Hsing Yun's funeral was held on 13 February, with President [[Tsai Ing-wen]], Premier [[Chen Chien-jen]], KMT chairman [[Eric Chu]], and Kaohsiung mayor [[Chen Chi-mai]] in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-02-13 |title=President, premier attend funeral of Fo Guang Shan founder Hsing Yun - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202302130011}}</ref> His remains were cremated at Daxian Temple in nearby [[Tainan]], [[Baihe District]]. His urn was returned to Fo Guang Shan's Longevity Memorial Park the same evening.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-05 |title=星雲大師回佛光山圓寂 不願影響社會資源 醫療長年自費 |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121475/6951990 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=www.worldjournal.com |language=zh-TW}}</ref> His ashes were interred inside the Patriarch's Shrine nearby the Fo Guang Shan monastery campus.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-14 |title=Relics of Fo Guang Shan's Master Hsing Yun in Taiwan |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4809904}}</ref>

== Awards ==
In 2008, Hsing Yun was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) from [[Whittier College]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whittier.edu/alumni/poetnation/honorary|title=Honorary Degrees {{!}} Whittier College|website=www.whittier.edu|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref>

On the morning of 13 February 2023, President Tsai Ing-wen conferred a posthumous presidential citation upon Hsing Yun, extolling his many achievements.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.president.gov.tw/News/27309 |title= 總統頒贈褒揚令 表彰星雲大師對國家、社會及宗教界之卓越貢獻 |publisher=[[中華民國總統府|總統府]]|date=2023-02-13|accessdate=2023-02-14|language=zh-tw }}</ref>

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General and cited references ==
* Chandler, Stuart (2004). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=OkEy4_yTr-cC Establishing a Pure Land on Earth: The Foguang Buddhist Perspective on Modernization and Globalization]''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. 
* Chia, Jack Meng-Tat (2015). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160731205638/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4420 "Toward a Modern Buddhist Hagiography Telling the Life of Hsing Yun in Popular Media"], ''Asian Ethnology'' 74 (1), 141–165
* Kimball, Richard L. (2000). [http://enlight.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JHB/jhb94214.htm "Humanistic Buddhism as Conceived and Interpreted by Grand Master Hsing Yun of Fo Guang Shan"]. ''Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism'' 1: 1–52.

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://hsingyun.org/ The Works of Hsing Yun]
* [http://www.buddhanet.net/masters/hsing_yun.htm Venerable Master Hsing Yun]

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{{succession box|title=[[Fo Guang Shan#Abbots|Abbot and Director of Fo Guang Shan]]|before= None |after=[[Hsin Ping]]| years=1967–1985}}
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{{Fo Guang Shan}}
{{Modern Buddhist writers}}
{{Four Great Mountains}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hsing, Yun}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Buddhist writers]]
[[Category:Chinese Buddhist monks]]
[[Category:Refugees of the Chinese Civil War]]
[[Category:Fo Guang Shan Buddhists]]
[[Category:People from Yangzhou]]
[[Category:Taiwanese religious leaders]]
[[Category:Taiwanese people from Jiangsu]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Tunghai University]]
[[Category:Taiwanese Buddhist monks]]