Also known as Shi Sengbian
Sengbian, surnamed Wu, was from Jiankang and became a monk at Anle Temple, learning sutra chanting from two masters. His plaintive, balanced voice was unrivalled in the early Qi. The Biographies of Eminent Monks says that once, as he chanted at a house in Xinting, a flock of cranes alighted by the steps and flew off when he finished a section, which made him famous. In 489, after the Prince of Jingling dreamed of chanting the Vimalakirti Sutra before the Buddha, he assembled the capital's best chanters to settle the melodies, Sengbian among them. His settings of the Old Vimalakirti and a seven-syllable Ruiying hymn were counted masterworks. He died in 493.
Records
Chanting that drew cranes; took part in the Yongming chant session
489The Biographies of Eminent Monks records that Sengbian was chanting a sutra at Liu Shao's residence at Xinting when, just as he finished one section, a flock of cranes settled on the steps before him and flew off all together when he finished the roll, and he became known far and near. On the nineteenth day of the second month of 489 Prince Wenxuan of Jingling dreamed of chanting the Vimalakirti before the Buddha, and the next morning gathered the monks of the capital skilled in chanting, Sengbian among them, to compose the sound. Sengbian handed down one section of the Old Vimalakirti and one seven-character hymn from the Ruiying.
References (1)
Became a monk at Anle Monastery; died in 493
493The monk Sengbian, whose lay surname was Wu, came from Jiankang and became a monk at Anle Monastery. He loved reading the scriptures from youth and studied under the masters Qian and Chang; at first he followed their manner, then in later years refined it with care, giving his chanting a plaintive yet balanced tone that stood alone in the early Qi. He died in 493, the eleventh year of Yongming under the Southern Qi.
References (1)
Northern and Southern