Huiyuan
Huiyuan (慧遠) was an influential figure in Chinese Buddhism during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, known for his profound impact on the dissemination of Buddhist teachings in southern China. He was born into a scholarly family and, at a young age, immersed himself in classical Chinese texts, particularly the works of Laozi and Zhuangzi. At the age of twenty-one, Huiyuan converted to Buddhism after studying under the renowned master Dao An. He dedicated much of his life to lecturing on Buddhist scriptures and translating them into Chinese, making them more accessible to his followers.
Huiyuan is often credited as the founder of the Pure Land sect, which emphasizes the importance of faith and devotion to Amitābha Buddha for achieving enlightenment and rebirth in the Pure Land. His teachings contributed to the Chinese interpretation of prajna, or transcendental wisdom. After moving to Lushan, he lived in seclusion at the Dong Lin Si temple, where he continued his work for several decades until his passing. Huiyuan's legacy remains significant in the development of Buddhist thought and practice in China, particularly in the Pure Land tradition.
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Huiyuan
Related civilization: China
Major role/position: Buddhist monk
Life
At the age of thirteen, Huiyuan’s (HWEE-yew-AHN) uncle took him to visit Luoyang city, where he studied and mastered the Liujing (Six Classics; the books of the Wujing, or Five Classics, plus a lost book on music). He was especially well versed in the works of Laozi and Zhuangzi. When he was twenty-one years old, Huiyuan went to Heng Shan to visit the famous Buddhist master Dao An (314-385 c.e.) and was then converted to Buddhism. He began lecturing on Buddhist scriptures when he was twenty-four. Sometime between 377 and 381 c.e., Huiyuan left his master and moved to Lushan (in modern Jiangxi Province). He then lived in seclusion in the temple called Dong Lin Si for the rest of his life. During his remaining thirty-five to forty years, Huiyuan sent his disciples to search for Buddhist scriptures, which he translated into Chinese. He also corresponded with Kumārajīva and other famous Buddhists in China.
Influence
Huiyuan was very much responsible for the dissemination of Buddhism in southern China and for the Chinese interpretation of the Buddhist doctrine of prajna, or transcendental wisdom. He was believed to be the founder of the Buddhist sect called Jing Tu (Pure Land).
Bibliography
Lai, Whalen. Tao-sheng’s Theory of Sudden Enlightenment Re-examined: Interaction with Seng-chao, Hui-kuan, Kumarajiva, and Hui-yuan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1987.
Tanaka, Kenneth Kenichi. The Dawn of Chinese: Pure Land Buddhist Doctrine. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1990.
Tsukamoto, Zenryu. A History of Early Chinese Buddhism: From Its Introduction to the Death of Hui-yüan. Translated by Leon Hurvitz. New York: Kodansha International, 1985.