Clerics › Religious Figure

Shi Jing'an (Bazhi Toutuo)

Late Qing patriotic Buddhist master and poet (1851–1912 CE), famed as the Eight-Fingered Ascetic, first President of the Chinese Buddhist Association.

Also known as Bazhi Toutuo · Monk Jichan · Huang Dushan

Roles: Religious FigureWriter / Poet

Shi Jing'an (1851–1912 CE), lay name Huang Dushan, styled Jichan and known as the Eight-Fingered Ascetic (Bazhi Toutuo), was the premier Buddhist poet and reform leader of the late Qing period. Heartily concerned with national crises, his tragic and noble poetry in the 'Bazhi Toutuo Collection' remains a spiritual highlight of late imperial China.

Life and times

Dates 1851–1912 CE

EraQingRepublican Era

Records

Ordained in 1868, abbot of Tiantong Temple in 1902

Ordained in 1868; abbot of Tiantong in 1902

The Chinese Wikipedia entry says Jing'an was ordained in 1868 at Fahua Temple in Xiangyin and became abbot of temples including Shangfeng Temple on Mount Heng; in 1877 he burned two fingers of his left hand at Ayuwang Temple as an offering, which gave him the name Eight-Finger Ascetic. He became abbot of Tiantong Temple in Ningbo in 1902, founded a monks' education association in 1908, and was first president of the Chinese General Buddhist Association in 1912, dying that year at Fayuan Temple in Beijing.

References (2)