Of Dingyuan county in eastern Sichuan, Wang clan; born 1634. He would not touch meat or wine from birth and was nicknamed 'the little monk'. In 1644 Zhang Xianzhong's armies destroyed his family — father, mother, brother and sister all killed — and he spent years on the road sleeping in grass and dew. Adopted by a garrison commander in Zunyi who wanted an heir, he refused and kept refusing until at twenty-two he was tonsured at Luohan monastery in Rongchang. In 1658, sweeping incense in the courtyard, he saw the moon come out of a fold in the mountain and 'set down a heavy load'. He served Zhangxue Tongzui, and in 1681 — his teacher then seventy-two — was recalled by letter to succeed him at Zhaojue in Chengdu. He was abbot of Fenglin on Mount Qingcheng. In 1693 he had the Jinjiang chandeng cut and printed.
References: DILA Authority A016606
View interactive profile →