Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) Memorial

Photographic Library
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0001

This particular version of this photograph featuring Xu Yun at the Yang Quan
Monastery (Gu Shan) is taken from page 12 of the 1988 Element Books edition of
Charles Luks English translation of the Chinese biography entitled Empty Cloud The
Autobiography of a Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun (edited by Richard Hunn). The
photograph originates from the Buddhist Library of China and is thought to show
Master Miao Lian, from whom Xu Yun received full ordination in 1859/60 (aged 20) at
Yang Quan, together with the Dharma-names Gu Yan, Yan Che, and De Qing. There is
no date associated with this photograph, but Xu Yuns hair is beginning to turn grey and
both men appear to be middle-aged that is between 40 and 60 years of age. This
means that this picture could have been taken sometime between 20 to 40 years after
their initial meeting in 1859/60, that is between the years 1879/80 and 1899/1900. The
detail that this might be Master Miao Lian stems from the information provided to
Charles Luk by the Buddhist Library of China.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0002

This photograph has been copied and cropped a number of times in China and has a
number of equally important manifestations. Originally, evidence suggests that this was
a one of a series of photographs, with the second example in the above collection taken
slightly to Xu Yuns right hand side. The poem attached (underneath) to this photograph
was written by Master Xu Yun and is translated by Charles Luk as:
The wind of karma drove me to Wuchang city
Where my illness causes others so much trouble.
I stayed three months at the Temple of Three Buddhas,
Filled with shame and horror at all my misfortunes.
Mindless of having climbed to the top of the world,
I wait for those who have also vowed to ascend to Bodhi,
Remembering that Guan Zhang-mu on Yu-zhuan Peak
Achieved Reality supreme after hearing a word or two.
The third example is a beautiful example of the development of what might be referred
to as Xu Yun iconology, complete with glowing halo. The unknown artist has produced
an exact copy of the position of the hands and use of the mala. On page 130 of the 1988
Element Books edition of Charles Luks English translation of the Chinese biography
entitled Empty Cloud The Autobiography of a Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun (edited by
Richard Hunn) it states that this picture was taken of Master Xu Yun in his 113thyear,
(1952/53) at the Three Buddhas Temple, Wuchang. Unlike the majority of photographs
in this book, it is not accredited to the Buddhist Library of China, and appears to have
been a personal possession of Charles Luk (1898-1978).
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0003

This picture was taken in 1959, Master Xu Yuns 120th year of life. At this point in his
long life he had nearly completed two full 60 year cycles of the Chinese astrological
system. On page 155 of the 1988 Element Books edition of Charles Luks English
translation of the Chinese biography entitled Empty Cloud The Autobiography of a
Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun (edited by Richard Hunn) the caption reads that this

picture was taken on Mount Yun Ju, and the Zhen Ru Monastery, the last area to be rebuilt by Xu Yun in his life time. Charles Luk attributes this picture to the Buddhist
Library of China. This photograph was also used by Charles Luk in his 1964 book
entitled The Secrets of Chinese Meditation, (between pages 48 49), with the caption
reading The late Chan Master Hsu Yun in 1959. Here, Master Xu Yun sits on the
rocky ground without a cushion, wearing a patchwork robe and moving the mala
through his fingers. The mind, breath, and touch of mala all emanate equally from the
empty mind ground and never deviate from the host in host position of the Cao Dong
School of Chan. Chan and Zen practitioners should take note of the lack of modern
comfort and realise that all is the empty mind ground.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0004

An iconic photograph of Master Xu Yun taken in 1957/58 - when he was in his 118th
year of life. This picture was taken at the Zhen Ru Monastery on Yun Ju Mountain in
Jiangxi province, Southeast China. He continued to organise the repair of a 6 mile track
from Zhang-gong Jetty to the monastery, and to reclaim waste-land for monastic use.
However, at this time local officials confiscated the cultivated monastic land and threw
Master Xu Yun out of the cowshed he chose to live within. The Central Government in
Beijing intervened and the local authority officials withdrew from the area leaving Xu
Yun free to return to his cowshed. Master Xu Yun always refused even the most meagre
of comforts in his daily life. On page 114 of the 1988 Element Books edition of Charles
Luks English translation of the Chinese biography entitled Empty Cloud The
Autobiography of a Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun (edited by Richard Hunn) this picture
appears confirming the date and place, and that it was supplied to Charles Luk by the
Buddhist Library of China.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0005

From the type of robe (black tie-across), and length of hair and beard, this picture
appears to show Master Xu Yun at the Three Buddhas Temple in Wuchang, Hubei
province (1952/53 in his 113th year). His left hand can be clearly seen to be missing
its ring-finger. In his 58th year of life (1897/98), Master Xu Yun travelled to the Ashoka
Monastery situated in Zhejiang province, with the intention of burning-off his left ringfinger out of respect for his mother who died giving birth to him. Xu Yun never new his
mother, but had only seen a photograph of her. At the Ashoka Monastery he performed
three thousand prostrations per day toward the shrine containing the Buddhas relics.

One night, whilst sat in Chan meditation, Xu Yun saw a dazzling bright-green dragon
that took him (on its back) high into the sky, and into a land of paradise. There, he
witnessed his mother sat in the room of a palace he called to her to get on the dragons
back and fly to the Pure Land! When the dragon brought him back, he decided the time
had come to burn-off his finger and dedicate the merit of this sacrifice to his mother.
The above picture shows Master Xu Yun during his time of recovery from a fearful
beating that he had received earlier at the hands of local officials at Zhen Ru Monastery,
Yun Men Mountain.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0006

This picture is amongst the last photographs taken of Master Xu Yun. Here he has his
head and beard shaved. When circumstances permitted, Xu Yun would often perform
this ritual around the time of Chinese New Year where the old year meets the new
but in this instance the ritual has been performed later in the year, apparently in
preparation for his own death. This photograph is from his 120th year of life (1959) on
Mount Yun Men, in the grounds of Zhen Ru Monastery. He is seated on a chair and
appears to be in a state of deep meditation. In his A Pictorial Biography of the
Venerable Master Hsu Yun, Chan Master Hsuan Hua describes this picture as being
taken three months before Xu Yun completed the stillness, or passed away into
sunyata. This fact would date the picture to around mid-way through July 1959,
as Master Xu Yun entered parinirvana on the 13th day of October, 1959. During the
third month of that year, he had become ill, and following the seventh month his
health deteriorated. Although the Beijing authorities offered medical help, Xu Yun
refused and stated that his casual link with the world is coming to an end.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0007

This photograph features Master Xu Yun and a young Master Fo Yuan (1922-2009),
who would go on to become a great Chan master in his own right. The picture was
taken in Xu Yuns 113th year of life (1952/53) at the Three Buddhas Temple in
Wuchang, Hubei province. Master Xu Yun sits on a raised meditation platform, whilst
Master Fo Yuan stands respectfully to one side indicating that he is a student of Xu
Yuns. At this time Master Xu Yun, although still weak from a beating he had received
from local official at Yun Men, had been officially summoned to Beijing Master
Fo Yuan accompanied him as his personal attendant taking care of his every need as he
travelled northward. The Chinese text accompanying this photograph confirms these
facts;
1952 9
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0008

In the 31st year of the Republic of China (1942/43), Master Xu Yun was aged 103 years
old. This was a time of great disruption and destruction as Southern China resisted the

imperial Japanese invasion. The Japanese knew that many important Chinese officials
met at the Nan Hua Temple (situated in Qujiang, Northern Guangdong) and sent bomber
aircraft to destroy it. Master Xu Yun (who was staying at Nan Hua) knew the intentions
of the Japanese and when their aircraft arrived he told the occupants not to worry. He
sat in meditation in the main hall and the Japanese bombs that dropped but did not fall
on the temple. After this, the Japanese planes collided in mid-air and exploded.
Following this incident, Master Xu Yun travelled to Guilin (Guangxi province) at the
request of Marshall Li Ji Shen where he stayed on Mount Yue Ya. At this place many
monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen came to be accepted as his disciples. The above
picture features Master Xu Yun stood next to Master Dao An (at Guilin) on the 14th day
of the 11th month. The accompanying Chinese text confirms these basic facts;
31 11.14
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0009

This picture appears throughout the Chinese language internet in a number of versions,
usually with one or other of those represented (with Xu Yun) edited out for different
reasons. In this photograph, Master Xu Yun is in his 109th year of life and the year is
1948/49. The person to the right of Xu Yun is the young Dharma Master Hsuan Hua
who would go one to be a famous Chan Master in the West and to Xu Yuns left is the
American lady Ananda Jennings. She had previously worked for three years at the
League of Nations, but her experience suggested to her that true world peace could only
be achieved within each individual. She was once a Theosophist who had transitioned
into Buddhism; she had heard that Xu Yun was a living saint and had travelled to China
just to see him. She received ordination under Xu Yun and this picture is believed to be
taken at Nan Hua Temple, Guangdong province.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0010

Master Xu Yun arrived in Shanghai on the 25th day of the 10th month of 1952, and the
next day began a 7 week Prayer Meeting for World Peace. Master Xu Yun gave a
number of discourses over those 7 weeks about the Ch'an tradition and remembered the
great Pure Land Master Yin Guang (d. 1940). In the above photograph he is standing
with the Venerable Lai Guo (1881-1953) and the Chinese text written on the photograph
reads:
In 1952, one day in the winter Venerable Xu Yun arrived in Shanghai and paid a
visit to Venerable Lai Guo; this photograph was taken to commemorate this
auspicious meeting.
This picture often appears in Chinese sources in the edited format seen in the second
version with the other people and background airbrushed out. Curiously the flowers
remain. In this picture Master Xu Yun is in his 113th year of life.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0011

Master Xu Yun wears the distinctive black and white patchwork robe, a robe that is
made from left-over pieces of cloth. In ancient India ascetics often clothed their body in
rags found on rubbish heaps, or retrieved from rotting corpses in cemeteries. The
patchwork robe is a sign of great humility and far cry from the designer robes prevalent
in todays society. Here Master Xu Yun wears an extra piece of cloth that serves as a
hood that covers his head and shoulders in other pictures featuring Xu Yun in such a
robe, this extra garment is absent. This picture was taken in 1956 outside the main hall
Zhen Ru Monastery on Mount Yun Ju and Master Xu Yun is in his 117th year of life. In
this year he finished important rebuilding tasks at the monastery, which included the
repair of the main hall, (which he is stood in front of in this picture), the Tower of
Humility, the Shrine to the Four Deva Kings (the Protectors of the Monastery), the
Tower of Humility, the Bell Tower, shrine halls and dormitories, etc. In three years
Master Xu Yun had successfully directed the rebuilding of Zhen Ru in all this time he
never requested funds once and yet many people felt compelled to contribute to the
cause nevertheless, such was the purity of Xu Yuns mind. The Chinese writing running
down the upper left-hand side of this photograph reads Xu Yun the Elder (
Xu Yun Zhang Lao). The basic facts regarding this picture are confirmed in the Chinese
text that accompanies it:

 1956
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0012

From left to right, the people featured in this photograph are; Mr Lin Song An, Master
Xu Yun, Master Zhi Cheng, and Mr Lin Bang Xiong. This picture was taken in 1946 at
the Kai Yuan Temple situated in Chaozhou, eastern Guangdong province. In 1946
Master Xu Yun was in the 107th year of his life. The war against the Japanese had
come to an end and Master Xu Yun was able to move about with greater freedom in
South China. After expounding the Buddhadharma a great number of disciples took the
precepts. In the winter, Xu Yuns senior disciple Guan Ben passed away. To read an
English translation of a rare Chinese newspaper article relating to the people and
circumstances surrounding this photograph, please access the following link:
A Treasured Photograph From 66 Years Ago By Lin Bang Hong
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0013

One of a number of photographs taken in late 1952 when Master Xu Yun was in his
113th year of life. On the 28th day of the 7th lunar month he (and his attendants)
boarded a train for Beijing. Initially he travelled to the Guang Hua Monastery but so
many hundreds of people came to pay their respect that the monastery proved too
small. He then moved to the Guang Ji Monastery that could better handle the crowds
that he attracted. At this temple over a hundred delegates representing Buddhism from
all over China arrived to take part in a conference. It was decided to re-establish the
Chinese Buddhism Association and Master Xu Yun was offered the Presidency which he
declined on the grounds of old age and ill health. Master Yuan Ying was then elected
President with the Tibetan Sherab Gyatso and Zhao Bo Zhu as Vice Presidents. Master
Xu Yun looks magnificent in his full robes as he sits with his mala he is detached from
the turmoil that surrounds him.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0014

The date written on this photograph is the 25th of December, 1955. Master Xu Yun
is living on Mount Yun Ju (at the Zhen Ru Monastery) working on its repair. Just prior
to this in the autumn, several dozen monks came to Yun Ju to request the transmission
of precepts and ordination from Xu Yun. The Master thought it unwise to proceed
without government permission, and contacted the authorities. When news got out that
Xu Yun was going to transmit the precepts during the 10th lunar month, around 500
monks gathered on Yun Ju. This was far too many and so the Master expounded the 10
prohibitions, the Vinaya rules, and the 3 cumulative commandments before asking 400
of the monks to return to their home temples. He instructed these monks to follow the
instructions found in the Brahma Net Sutra on a specific day, and make use of the
expedient of self-ordination. In this way Master Xu Yun openly ordained 100 monks on
Yun Ju, whilst simultaneously ordaining 400 other monks at a distance and in secret.
Master Xu Yun was in his 116th year of life.

Additional Information: 'Here he is wearing the purple Kesa he gave to my Master.

Master
Sheng Yi wore it when ordaining me. It was given him by Prince Soo I think.' Eric
Johns Email 7.11.13.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0015

The Chinese language text accompanying this very interesting picture reads:

This translates into English as:

The old Master Xu Yun pictured with the Head of US Media called Newton.
The inscription above the arch behind the two men appears to be in Sanskrit and reads;
which is, of course, the famous mantra Om Mani Padme Hum
(Chin: ). Although there is no date or place name is given for this
picture, the same archway is evident in (ICBI Library) picture - Number 0051 which
identifies the location as being the Temple of the Six Banyans, situated in Guangzhou,
Guangdong province. Master Xu Yun visited this temple in 1946/47 whilst in his 107th
year of life.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0016

Master Xu Yun sits in meditation under a tree believed to over a thousand years old.
The Master is sat infront of the Sagely Arrow Hall ( Sheng Jian Tang), situated
in the Yongquan Temple on Mount Gu, Fujian province. The year is 1932/33 and the
Master is in his 93rd year of life. In 1928/29, the former Abbot of Mount Gu Da
Gong passed away and Xu Yun was asked to take his place an invitation Xu Yun
formally accepted in 1929/30. In 1932/33 an unusual old man came to Xu Yun, knelt on
the ground and requested instruction in the Vinaya or rules of discipline. This mans
name was Yang and he said he was from Nan-tai. The monk called Miao-zong monk
(who also came from Nan-tai) said to Xu Yun that he had never heard of him. After
receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts and a certificate of discipleship; the old man
vanished without a trace. Later, when Miao-zong had returned to Nan-tai, he found at
the Templeof the Dragon King, a statue that looked just like this old man. The statue
held in its hand a certificate of discipleship. After this it became common knowledge
that the Dragon King had received Precept transmission from Master Xu Yun. The
following accompanying Chinese text confirms the basic details of this photograph:

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0017

It has been a long tradition in China that Buddhist monks and nuns are not allowed to
beg for their daily food from the laity as is the case in many other Buddhist traditions.
Indeed, within the Chan monastic tradition the idea that all states of being are
potentially an equal manifestation of the empty Mind Ground, has been applied to the
cultivation of land for farming purposes. Using an agricultural implement to till the
land is treated with the same attitude as if one were sitting in the meditation hall no
difference should be found anywhere. This in the attainment and practice ofnonabiding mind and is in accordance with the 6th Patriarchs teachings as conveyed in the
Altar Sutra. This picture depicts Master Xu Yun in his 90th year of life in the year
1929/30. He is preparing the ground for the planting of tree seeds in the garden just
behind the Abbots Room on Mount Gu, Fujian province. Having just accepted the post
of Abbot, Master Xu Yun is setting an example to the other monks. Although 90 years
of age he - is still able to cultivate the land and no work is beneath him.


ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0018

In the year 1931/32 Master Xu Yun was in his 92nd year of life. At this time on Mount
Gu, the Master continued his duties as Abbot. He expounded the sutras and transmitted
the precepts, and founded a Vinaya school. He also rebuilt the temples of Bing Qu, Xi
Lin, and Yun Wo. The Chinese text accompanying photographs from Mount Gu dating
to this period, invariably refer to the Master as Yun Gong Sheng Ren), or
Yun the Respected Venerable.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0019

This photograph hangs today as a portrait at the Zhen Ru Monastery situated on Mount
Yun Ju, Jiangxi province. This picture is not included in the 1988 Element Books
edition of Charles Luks English translation of the Chinese biography entitled Empty
Cloud The Autobiography of a Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun (edited by Richard Hunn),
but it does appear as one of the many pictures contained in Cen Xue Lus original
Chinese language edition of the biography Xu Yun he Shang Nian Pu) ).
The scholar Cen Xue Lu records this photograph as being taken during Master Xu
Yuns 115th year of life (1954/55) on Mount Yun Ju, during the 30th day of the 7th lunar
month. This was a significant month and the biography records that over 20
dormitories, a brick-kiln, latrines and a rice-pounding room were rebuilt. At this time,
Abbot Ben Huan, (of Nan Hua Monastery), Bhiksuni Guan Ding (of Tai Bing Lotus
hall), and four others came to pay respect to the Master. There was a large, cracked bell
lying on the ground, and Master Xu Yun explained that it is called the self-ringing bell,
and that it had become cracked when the invading Japanese burnt down the bell-tower.
In the past, the bell would ring on its own whenever an enlightened master arrived at the
monastery. He added that the crack in the bell would mend by itself. When the bell was
examined, it was discovered that the indeed the crack had begun to repair itself. Despite
ample living space available in the monastery, the Master preferred to stay in an old
cowshed.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0020

In the year 1946/47 World War II finally came to an end in China with the final defeat
of the imperial Japanese forces. After this the Chinese authorities re-occupied all their
former locations and established law and order. The Chinese government ordered all
the monasteries to hold ceremonies and chant sutras to comfort the spirits of those who
had died in the war. Master Xu Yun was invited to the Six Banyans Temple situated in
Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to hold a similar ritual. Whilst Master Xu Yun was
chanting mantra and reading sutras, the peach trees in the temple suddenly blossomed.
Over 100,000 people came to see this event as the trees had produced flowers out of
season. This was put down to the power of the Masters spiritual presence. In 1946/47
Master Xu Yun was in his 107th year of age. This photograph of his visit to the Six
Banyans Temple shows him with Master Kuan Jian.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0021

On the 10th lunar month of 1952, Master Xu Yun, who was in his 113th year of his life,
(and staying at Guang Ji Monastery, Beijing), met a delegation of Theravada Buddhist
monks visiting China from Sri Lanka. He met them on behalf of the recently reestablished Chinese Buddhist Association. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by

Bhikkhu Dhammaratna, and presented a relic of the Buddha, a Buddhist Pali Sutta
written on pattra (palm-leaves), and a Bo-tree sapling. Over two thousand devotees
attended the reception. It is interesting to note the mutual respect each school of
Buddhism offers toward the other. There is no conflict between the Mahayana and the
Theravada.
1952 10
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0022

Master Xu Yun is in his 107th year of his life as he is photographed with fellow
monastics and lay people of the local Buddhist association gather around the main
entrance to the Six Banyans Temple situated in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. The
year is 1946/47 and Master Xu Yun has just officiated over a chanting and sutra reading
ritual to assist the spirits of those killed during the awful events of World War II. The
central government had ordered all the monasteries and temples in the land to perform
similar rituals and ceremonies in honour of the dead. Due to the unseasonal flowering
of plants at the temple, around 100,000 people came to see this unusual event an event
believed to be associated with Xu Yuns enlightened presence.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0023

This interesting picture was taken in 1946/47 when Master Xu Yun was in his 109th
year of life. The Master had travelled to Guangzhou(the place of this photograph), to
open Zhi-des Buddhist Hospital. The original Chinese language caption explains that
the men gathered around are news reporters, and that the Western woman is Ananda
Jennings (before she ordained at the Nan Hua Temple). The reporters appear to have
been present to cover the opening of the hospital for the local press. The caption further
explains that Xu Yun expounded the Dharma at the hospital.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0024

Master Xu Yun is pictured here with the Guangdong Provincial Senate member the lay
Buddhist Wu Pei Lin. Although undated in the Chinese text, it is reasonable to assume
that this picture was taken in 1946/47 during Xu Yuns opening of a Buddhist hospital in
Guangzhou. Master Xu Yun is wearing the same robe and is carrying the same set of
beads as recorded in his photograph with Ananda Jennings in Guangzhou. Master Xu
Yun at this time was in his 109th year of life.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0025

Master Xu Yun returned from Shanghai to Mount Gu in early 1930 in his 90th year of
life. In the spring of 1930, he held an ordination ceremony at the Yong Quan Temple
and transmitted the precepts to those entering the monastic life. Such was the power of
this extraordinary event that two ancient palm trees blossomed unexpectedly. The
Chinese text says that as a consequence of this rare occurrence, many people gathered
and exclaimed that this event signified great hope. Xu Yuns biography states that these
two feathery palm trees were planted around 1000 years ago during the Tang Dynasty.
One was planted by the Prince of the Min State, (now Fujian province), and the other by
Abbot Sheng Jian. The rare flowering of these trees was recorded by Master Wen Shi on
a stone tablet at the temple.
1930 ,91 ,
,
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0026

Master Xu Yun is pictured here with Master Hui Guang at the Nan Hua Temple in
Guangdong province. The year is 1947/48 and is described in the accompanying
Chinese text as being the 36th year of the Republic of China, the founding of which is
usually recorded as the 1stof January, 1912. Prior to 1949, dates in China were always
recorded in accordance with the length of time a dynasty had been in power. At this
time, (the second lunar month), Xu Yun was in his 108th year of life, and was holding
an ordination ceremony for 500 new monks when Master Hui Guang arrived. This
picture (preserved in Hui Guangs biography) was taken to record the meeting.
: 36 () ()
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0027

Master Xu Yun is sat with the American Buddhist Ananda Jennings and the monks
of Nan Hua Temple, situated in Guangdong province. Previously to her visit to China,
Ananda Jennings had travelled to India to learn the Dharma, whilst there she spent an
extended amount of time living in voluntary seclusion. After meeting Xu Yun in
Guangzhou, they travelled together to the Nan Hua Temple, where Master Xu Yun
transmitted the refuge formula to Jennings and gave her the Dharma-name Kuan Hung
(Great Vastness). After this a Chan Week meditation retreat was held to mark the
occasion. The year is 1948/49 and Master Xu Yun is in his 109th year of life. This is a
rare example of Xu Yun holding the Fragrant Board, or Discipline Stick ( Xiang Ban). This blunt, wooden device in the shape of an ancient sword - is used to
expertly strike important energy points on the upper back and shoulders, so that a
drowsy practitioner is revived during long hours of meditation practice.
Additional Information: 'Here Xu Yun is holding the Abbots Board you see the 3 stripe
hexagram?' Eric Johns Email 7.11.13
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0028

Although this photograph is undated, Master Xu Yun is wearing a dark coloured robe
(probably black), and has a very similar hair and beard style found in pictures taken of
him at Wuchang in 1952/53, where he was in his 113th year of life. He appears to be sat
with a single family whose constituents are typical of that of an official, or someone of
important or high social rank. The head of the household (i.e. the husband/father) is sat
to the left of Xu Yun. Four women probably the wives are stood behind Xu Yun,
with two of the wives holding young children. On the right of the picture is stood the
son (around 10 12 years old), and sat at the front of the picture are 3 young girls
(probably about 8 years old). In old China it was not uncommon for men of social
standing to have up to four wives at the same time. Sat to the right of Xu Yun is another
monk. In Xu Yuns biography it is mentioned that he was still recovering from the
awful beating he had suffered at the hands of local officials on Mount Yunmen when in
Wuchang, and that Upasaka Chen Zhen Ru arranged for him to be given medical
treatment. Due to his ill health, he travelled with a number of monks from Yunju who
acted as his attendants: Fo Yuan, Jue Min, Kuan Tu, and Fa Yun. Indeed, the monk
pictured with Master Xu Yun appears to be Master Fo Yuan.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0029

Master Xu Yun spent around 6 years repairing the temple of the Sixth Patriarch (Hui
Neng) the Nan Hua Temple (in Guangdong province), between his first arrival in 1934
and its completion in 1940. He then returned to Nan Hua a number of times, receiving
dignitaries and holding Chan Week retreats until his permanent move to Mount
Yunmen in 1950/51. Although this picture is undated, Xu Yun looks very similar in
appearance to a picture taken of him in Hong Kong and dated to 1935/36, when he was
in his 96th year of life. There are a number of group pictures featuring Xu Yuns senior
disciples taken at various times in his life (disciples such as Miao Yun and Guan
Ben). Xu Yuns biography records that on the 17th day of the 11 month of 1934/35,
during the transmission of the Bodhisattva Rules (at the Nan Hua Temple), a tiger came
in as to receive the precepts. Although people were scared, Xu Yun spoke the Refuge
Formula and the tiger became calm and went away. The accompanying Chinese text
simply reads Master Xu Yun at NanHua Temple, photographed with many monks
(Sangha).

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0030

This photograph of Master Xu Yun appears to show him meditating with his eyes open.
This picture was published in the 2nd lunar month of 1937 Xu Yuns 97th year of life

 during the period of his life when he was rebuilding the Nan Hua Temple in
Guangdong province. Indeed, this picture is described as appearing in the book entitled
Small record of Nan Hua, in the chapter Sui (Dynasty) Purity Record a text dealing
with pure (chaste) behaviour, and vegetarianism.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0031

The date is the 15th day of the 10th lunar month (1952/53), and Masters Xu Yun and
Yuan Ying are in Beijing attending the Asia Pacific Regional Peace Conference.'
Master Xu Yun is in his 113th year of life. It was decided that the Chinese Buddhist
Association be re-established, but Xu Yun declined the offer of the Presidency due to ill
health and old age. Instead, Master Yuan Ying was elected President. After this, a
Prayer Meeting for World Peace was called by the Buddhists of Shanghai. Xu Yun
arrived in Shanghai on the 25th, and the meeting began the following day (the 26th day
of the 10thlunar month). This very special meeting lasted 7 weeks during which time
many donations were received (and distributed). The 1988 Element Books edition of
Charles Luks English translation of Xu Yuns biography Empty Cloud (edited by
Richard Hunn), goes on to say (page 147) that on the 17th day of December, 1952, the
Master gave a sermon to the meeting regarding the integrated nature of the many
different paths to enlightenment. Although all different in manifestation, all true paths
share the same root. On page 149, Xu Yun is recorded as stating:
'All methods are good for practice and if you find one which suits you, practice it; but
you should never praise one method and vilify another, thereby giving rise to
discrimination. The most important thing is sila (discipline) which should be strictly
observed. Nowadays there are corrupt monks who not only disregard the rules of
discipline, but who say that to observe them is also a form of clinging; such an
irresponsible statement is harmful and dangerous to beginners.
1952 10 15


ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0032

In 1953/54 during his 114th year of life Master Xu Yun travelled to the Guang Ji
Temple in Beijing to attend the Calming the World Dharma Conference. This
gathering should not be confused with the earlier conference of 1952/53 entitled the
Asia Pacific Regional Peace Conference, both of which were attended by Xu Yun. In
the earlier conference the Chinese Buddhist Association was re-established, whilst the
latter meeting served as its inaugural gathering. At the Calming the World Dharma
Conference, degenerate monks attempted to pass a resolution to abolish the need for
monks and nuns to follow the rules of the vinaya, but Master Xu Yun, through his
influence, prevented this idea from being accepted by the other delegates, and it was
rejected.
1953
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0033

Master Xu Yun arrived at the Zhen Ru Monastery, (situated on Mount Yunju, Jiangxi
province), in the year (1953/54). He was in his 114th year of life. The Zhen Ru
Monastery was the last Buddhist site that he repaired during his long life and it was the
place of his parinirvana and cremation in 1959 his 120th year. During his six year
stay on Mount Yunju many photographs were taken of him, sometimes on his own, or,
as with this example, in a group. The accompanying Chinese text simply reads: Master
Xu Yun at Mount Yunju.

Additional Information: 'He was on Lu Shan at Da Lin Si when he was invited to Yun Ju
Shan, Zhen Ru Si. The Great Wood monastery , with it's corrugated tin roof is
now under the man made lake on Lu shan.' Eric Johns Email 7.11.13
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0034

A group photograph of Master Xu Yun and 10 monks (Bhikshu) who are disciples.
Although undated, Xu Yun wears the black robe, and has a similar hair and beard style
to a photograph taken at the Nan Hua Temple, (Guangdong province), during the 1930s
and 1940s. As he did not arrive at Nan Hua until 1934, (his 95th year), this photograph
certainly dates to after this time. The accompanying Chinese text does mention 10
disciples by name but it is unlikely these 10 disciples (all of whom received Dharmatransmission from Xu Yun) are actually in this photograph; Ju Xing, Guan Ben, Ling
Yuan, Ben Huan, Fo Yuan, Jing Hui, Sheng Yi, Xuan Hua, Chuan Yin, and Yi
Cheng. All the monks in this picture appear to be young men and even though Master
Guan Ben became a disciple of Xu Yun in 1932/33, (and passed away in 1946/47), it is
recorded in Xu Yuns biography that he was a scholar during the Qing Dynasty,
suggesting that he was not young when he became a monk. Furthermore, the fact that
Master Fo Yuan did not become a disciple of Xu Yun until 1952 (at Yunmen), means for
example, that Guan Ben and Fo Yuan could not appear in a photograph together with Xu
Yun, etc.
-

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0035

Master Xu Yun arrives at the Guang Ji Temple in Beijing to attend what the Chinese text
describes as a Calming the World Dharma Conference. The year is 1953/54 and
Master Xu Yun is in his 114th year of life. At this conference the Chinese Buddhist
Association held its inaugural meeting. This meeting should not be confused with the
earlier Asia Pacific Regional Peace Conference which occurred earlier in
1952/53. This photograph demonstrates the extraordinary spiritual power of Xu Yuns
presence.
1953
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0036

Master Xu Yun wearing his ceremonial robes as he walks into the Calming the World
Dharma Conference held at the Guang Ji Temple in Beijing in 1953/54 - with a natural
aura of spiritual authority and physical strength about him. He is in his 114th year of
life, and as he passes through the crowds that have gathered, he appears to be shielding
his eyes with his right hand from the flash of a photographers camera. In 1952/53 Xu
Yun attended what Chinese texts refer to as the Asia Pacific Regional Peace
Conference whilst the accompanying text to this picture refers to this (later) gathering
as the Calming the World Dharma Conference. This refers to another gathering at the
Guang Ji Temple in Beijing, which the English translation of Xu Yuns biography
(Empty Cloud) states occurred in the 4th month of 1953/54. This was the inaugural
meeting of the recently re-established Chinese Buddhist Association and the biography
states that degenerate monks attempted to abolish the vinaya rules a move which Xu
Yun blocked, thus ensuring the survival of the Chinese Buddhist Sangha.
1953
Additional Information: 'Here it looks to me that he just finished prostrations and is
making the usual finishing triangular mudra (to overcome greed hate & delusion).' Erci

Johns Email 7.11.13

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0037

In 1935/36 Master Xu Yun was in his 96th year of life. Although still holding the
Abbotship of Mount Gu, he had travelled to the Nan Hua Temple to begin its
restoration. Xu Yuns biography states that after the transmission of the precepts, he
was invited to the Donghua group of hospitals in the British colony of Hong Kong to
perform a ritual for the welfare of the dead on the earth and in the water. An altar was
set-up for this purpose at the Dong Lian and Jue Yuan Temples. Xu Yun is pictured here
with local monastics and hospital staff. Interestingly, the monk to the left of Xu Yun
and dressed in the Theravada style is recorded as Dharma Master Ci Hang ().
The accompanying Chinese text suggests that the Venerable Ci Hang has just returned
home to China from Myanmar (Burma), and is actually Chinese by birth.
1935
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0038

Master Xu Yun is wearing the black robe (together with the hair and beard style), seen
in many photographs taken at the Nan Hua Temple, (situated in Guangdong province).
He arrived at Nan Hua in 1934, his 95th year of life, and spent over a decade repairing
the temple and holding Chan Week meditation retreats. He took the American Buddhist
Ananda Jennings to the Nan Hua Temple in 1948/49 where she received the precepts.
In this time period Xu Yun also visited Hong Kong twice, once in 1934/35 and again in
1947/48, another possible location for this photograph. The accompanying Chinese text
simply states that Master Xu Yun has been photographed together with lay-Buddhists
perhaps these lay-Buddhists (all of whom appear to be women), have received the
precepts from Xu Yun and participated in a Chan retreat.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0039

Whilst Master Xu Yuns activity centred on the Nan Hua Temple from 1934 until 1950,
he visited Hong Kong twice both times at the request of the Donghua group of
hospitals. According to Xu Yuns biography the 1934 visit was to perform a ritual for
the welfare of spirits on earth and in water, and the 1947 visit it was to hold a ceremony
for the welfare of the British colony which had been occupied by imperial Japanese
troops during WWII. This is a rare Xu Yun photograph as it has a date, a location, and a
list of names. The accompanying Chinese text says that to the front left (of Xu Yun) is
Dharma Master Jue Guang (), whilst to the front right is the lay-Buddhist Hu
Wen Hu (), or perhaps the President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association
the lay-Buddhist Wang Xue Ren ().
1947

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0040

Master Xu Yun sat meditating and using mala (Buddha-beads) with two monkattendants at the Zhen Ru Monastery situated on Mount Yunjuin Jiangxi province.
According to the English translation (Empty Cloud) of Xu Yuns biography, he arrived
at Yunju in around the 9th month of 1953/54 after travelling around the north of China.
He was invited to Yunju to initiate a re-building project, and he stayed there until his
passing in late 1959. During these 6 years many photographs were taken of Xu Yun. In
many pictures such as this, the monks bow their heads out of respect for the old master.
The accompanying Chinese text simply states that this is a picture of Xu Yun taken on
the Yunju Mountain, at the Zhen Ru Monastery.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0041

During the year 1952/53, Master Xu Yun received a Theravada delegation from Sri
Lanka at the Guang Ji Temple in Beijing. At this time Master Xu Yun was in his 113th
year of life. On page 147 of the 1988 Element Books edition of Charles Luks English
translation of the Chinese biography entitled Empty Cloud The Autobiography of a
Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun (edited by Richard Hunn), it states the following:
On the thirteenth of the eighth month, the Master welcomed the Ceylonese Buddhist
delegation (to the) Guang Ji Monastery on behalf of the Chinese Buddhist
Association. The delegation was headed by Bhikkhu Dhammaratna who came to
present a relic of the Buddha, a Pali Sutta written on pattra (palm-leaves) and a Botree sapling. Over two thousand devotees were present at the reception.
This picture depicts Bhikkhu Dhammaratna () presenting a stupa in a
glass case to Master Xu Yun, (possibly containing the relic of the Buddha), who
graciously accepts this Dharma-gift on behalf of the Chinese Buddhist Association.
This is possibly the only photograph of Xu Yuns back in existence. The accompanying
Chinese text confirms these basic details.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0042

Master Xu Yun is sat to the right, with Master Yuan Ying sat to the left. It is 1952/53
and Xu Yun is attending the Asia Pacific Regional Peace Conference at the Guang Ji
Temple in Beijing. The accompanying Chinese text also states that both masters are
attending a Preparation Council to discuss the re-establishing of the Chinese Buddhist
Association. The Chinese text under each master in the photograph states their ages as;
Master Yuan Ying = 75 Master Xu Yun = 113.
1952 10

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0043

The Chinese text across the top of this picture states that Master Xu Yun is in his 118th
year of life. This was a troubled year for the Zhen Ru Monastery on Mount Yunju.
Although repairs to the buildings and grounds were going well, the local governmental
authorities cancelled the 1953 agreement allowing the monks to reclaim land, and sent
their officials to confiscate it yet again. In the process Master Xu Yun was thrown out
of his cowshed. Master Xu Yun complained to the government in Beijing who
immediately ordered the local authorities to stop harassing the monks. This they did, but
caused so much trouble locally that in the end Xu Yun had no choice but to hand over
the land. In the meantime, Master Hai Deng had taken over the temporary Abbotship of
Zhen Ru and expounded the Lotus Sutra and founded a Buddhist Study Centre.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0044

In 1946/47, Master Xu Yun was in his 107th year, when he was asked to travel to the
Six Banyans Temple in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong province, to organise
a ceremony involving sutra reading for the welfare of the spirits of those killed in the
war. In this photograph, Master Xu Yun is stood outside the Zou Lu Mansion in
Guangzhou, next to Master Zhi Ding.
1947
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0045

The Chinese text accompanying this photograph suggests that this picture of Master Xu
Yun - standing and meditating whilst using a mala (Buddha beads) dates from around
1946/47, and was taken in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province. This was probably at
the Six Banyans Temple where Xu Yun was visiting to hold a ceremony for the welfare
of the dead.
1947
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0046

What is interesting about this photography is that it features Master Xu Yun and vinaya
Master Hong Yi together at the Bai Yi Temple situated in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.
The date is given as the 19th year of the Republic (founded in 1912), this would equate
to 1930/31, as a Chinese lunar year overlaps with two Western solar years. The date is
given as 1930 and this corresponds with the traditional recording of the date in the
Chinese text as Geng Wu (). This meeting occurred during midsummer. The
Chinese calendar is comprised of 12 lunar months, with each month associated with a
particular zodiac animal. The 12 animal signs repeat 5 times over a period of 60 years
this is 1 cycle of the Chinese calendar. The Geng Wu designation is the 7th year (1930)
of the 77th cycle since the Chinese calendar began - when Yellow Emperor ruled China
well over 4000 years ago. This is curious because Xu Yuns biography (in English
translation) states that at this time Xu Yun was initially in Shanghai before heading to
Mount Gu monastery to assume the Abbotship there. Xu Yun was in his 90th year at
this time, and very busy with improving things on Mount Gu. The biography, however,
does record that in 1928/29, Xu Yun visited the King Ashoka Monastery at Ningbo to
worship the Buddha-relics held there.
1930

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0047

This photograph has no date or information attached to it. However, from Xu Yuns
hairstyle, beard, white inner garment, robe, and mala, it appears very similar to a picture
taken of him meditating outside at the Temple of the Three Buddhas, in Wuchang in
1952/53. In that year, Xu Yun was in his 113th year of life. This may well be a
photograph taken inside the Three Buddhas Temple.
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0048

In 1947, Master Xu Yun was invited to Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong
province, to perform a ritual for the welfare of those who had died during Chinas war
with Japan. In this year Master Xu Yun was in his 107th year of life. He performed the
ceremony of welfare for spirits on the water and land at the Temple of the Six Banyans.
After this he went to the Kai Yuan Temple situated in the city of Chaozhou (situated in
eastern Guangdong), where he transmitted the precepts. The accompanying Chinese
text says that he performed the purification ritual after transmitting the precepts, but
does not give the name of the temple. The English translation of his biography Empty
Cloud (translated by Charles Luk) states that the ceremony of purification occurred at
the Six Banyans Temples, whilst the precepts were transmitted at the Kai Yun Temple.
1947
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0049

Master Xu Yun at the Zhen Ru Monastery situated on Mount Yunju in Jiangxi province.
The year is 1955/56 and the picture is dated as the 25 day of the 12th lunar month.
Master Xu Yun is in his 116th year of life. The monk stood behind and (slightly to the
left) is Xu Yuns student Master Jing Hui. Late in that year many hundreds of monks
came to Mount Yun Ju to receive ordination from Xu Yun. This picture probably shows
Xu Yun transmitting the precepts to the monks, or is a symbolic representation of the
ceremony.

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0050

On the 10th day of the 6th lunar month of 1956, Master Hai Deng travelled from
Shanghai to the monastery on Yunju to be near to Master Xu Yun. At the end of the 9th
lunar month of 1957, he returned to Shanghai, meaning that he spent around a year and
a half at Zhen Ru. Now at this time, Master Hai Deng had risen above and beyond all
suffering. After arriving, a few people had harsh thoughts toward Master Hai Deng,
mistakenly assuming that his life of martial training ( Wu Gong), and his
reputation of martial brilliance was a distraction or form of pollution. However,
Master Xu Yun (disagreed with this criticism) and asked Master Hai Deng to
permanently remain at Zhen Ru. At the same time, the then abbot Master Xing Fu (
) decided to step-down and retire from this role, leaving the post
vacant. Master Xu Yun requested that Master Hai Deng assume this role, and following
the appropriate ceremonial ritual, Master Hai Deng was appointed abbot of Zhen Ru
Temple. Soon after, both Master Xu Yun and Master Hai Deng both lectured to the
monks for around 4 months upon the Surangama Sutra ( Leng Yan Jing).
Extracted from my translation of Master Hai Dengs Biography: Ch'an Master Hai Deng
(1902-1989)
The English translation of Master Xu Yuns biography (Empty Cloud translated by
Charles Luk and edited by Richard Hunn) states that in the year 1957/58 Xu Yuns
118th year of life the following occurred;
Abbot Hai-deng of the monastery expounded the Lotus Sutra, after which he selected
thirty young monks to form a Buddhist Study Centre to train the novices. (Page 204)
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0051

In 1946/47 Master Xu Yun was in his 107th year of age. In this year he was invited by
officials to travel to the Temple of the Six Banyans located in Guangzhou city,
Guangdong province. Here Xu Yun organised prayer and sutra readings to appease the
spirits of those who had died in WWII in China. Xu Yuns biography states that over
100,000 people came to the temple to witness the sudden blossoming of peach trees in
the temple grounds. The Chinese text accompanying this picture states the date in the
Western calendar as being the 10th day of September, 1946, but adds that in the Chinese
lunar calendar the date was actually the 15th day of the 8thlunar month. It also says that
Master Xu Yun is standing with Master Ju Zan (fourth from left).
1946 9 10 8 15
ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0052

In the autumn of 1957, Master Xu Yun was in his 117th year of life and staying at the
Zhen Ru Monastery situated on Mount Yunju, Jiangxi province. He was busy
rebuilding the site by repairing and restoring the buildings and cultivating the grounds.
During this time, it became known throughout the country that Xu Yun was active in the
area, and this attracted many hundreds of novices who wanted ordination from him.
Many thousands came to the monastery and in the end Xu Yun had to resort to the
expedient of transmitting the ordination precepts at a distance, (to temples far away), in
an attempt to prevent more people descending upon MountYunju. The accompanying
Chinese text says that this is a group photograph of Dharma followers with Xu Yun, and
mentions that the monk to the left of Xu Yun is the Abbot of Zhen Ru Master Xing Fu,
and the monk to the right is Master Hai Deng the famous Shaolin gongfu master.
When Xu Yun sent Xing Fu on an errand from Zhen Ru, he made Hai Deng the acting
abbot for a time. Hai Deng relinquished this post when Master Xing Fu returned from
his journey.
1957

ICBI LIBRARY NUMBER: 0053

In 1946, Master Xu Yun was in his 107th year of life. He was invited to the Temple of
the Six Banyans in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to perform a ritual for the welfare
of the spirits of those killed in the war. After this, he was invited to go the city of
Chaozhou (in eastern Guangdong), to teach the Buddhadharma at the Kai Yuan Temple.
At the Kai Yuan Temple, a great number of devotees came from far and wide to receive
the teaching. In this picture (taken at the KaiYuan Temple), Master Xu Yun is stood with
Master Yi Zhao.