Li Shutong
Encyclopedia
Hong Yi (Chinese: 弘一大師 Hóngyī Dashi), born Li Shutong (李叔同) was a Chinese
Buddhist monk, artist and art teacher. He also went by Wen Tao, Guang Hou, and Shu Tong, but was most commonly known by his Buddhist name, Hong Yi. He was a master painter, musician, dramatist, calligrapher, seal cutter, poet, and Buddhist monk. He was born in Tianjin
to a banking family originated in Hongdong County, Shanxi, that immigrated to Tianjin in Ming Dynasty though his mother was from Pinghu
, Zhejiang
province.
In 1898 Li moved to Shanghai
and joined the "Shanghai Painting and Calligraphy Association", and the "Shanghai Scholarly Society" while he was attending the Nanyang public school. In 1905 Li went to Japan
to study at Tokyo
School of Fine Art in Ueno Park where he specialized in Western painting and music. In 1910 Li returned to China，and was appointed to Tianjin's Beiyang Advanced Industry School. The next year he was appointed as a music teacher in a girl's school in Shanghai. He went to Hangzhou in 1912 and became a lecturer in the Zhejiang Secondary Normal College. He taught not only Western painting and music but also art history. By 1915 Jiang Qian hired him as a teacher at Nanjing Normal College (renamed in 1949 to Nanjing University
), and taught painting and music. He also taught at Zhejiang Secondary Normal School (浙江两级师范学堂), the predecessor of famous Hangzhou High School
(浙江省杭州高级中学).
During these later years, Li’s reputation grew, as he became the first Chinese educator to use nude models in his painting classes, not to mention as the first teacher of Western music in China. Some of the students, like Singapore artist Chen Wen Hsi (陈文希）whom he personally groomed went on to become accomplished masters of the arts in their later days. Li Shutong himself was also an accomplished composer and lyricist. Many of his compositions are still remembered and performed today.
In 1916, Li underwent a 21-day fast at a temple in Hangzhou, and experienced the benefit of a spiritual life. The following year, he took refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism. After spending another year there, Li began a new chapter in his life by choosing to be ordained as a monk, and thus began a holistic life dedicated to propagating Buddhism and its code of conduct. After becoming a monk he only practiced calligraphy, developing a simple and unadorned, yet unique style, which everyone who received a sample of treasured. He became known to all as Master Hong Yi. In 1942, Master Hong Yi died peacefully at the age of 63 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.
Articles
Lyrics
Music
长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天，Beyond the long pavilion, near the ancient route, beautiful grass connecting the sky,
晚风拂柳笛声残，夕阳山外山。The evening wind comforts the willows with the wave of a Chinese flute play, the setting Sun beyond the mountains.
天之涯，海之角，知交半零落，On the brink of the sky, in the corner of the sea, there are only a few knowing friends,
一瓢浊酒尽余欢，今宵别梦寒。We enjoyed the remaining happiness after a cup of translucent wine, please do not dream cold tonight.
长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天，Beyond the long pavilion, near the ancient route, beautiful grass connecting the sky,
晚风拂柳笛声残，夕阳山外山。 The evening wind comforts the willow leaves with the remainder of a Chinese flute play, the setting Sun is beyond the mountains.
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
Buddhist monk, artist and art teacher. He also went by Wen Tao, Guang Hou, and Shu Tong, but was most commonly known by his Buddhist name, Hong Yi. He was a master painter, musician, dramatist, calligrapher, seal cutter, poet, and Buddhist monk. He was born in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
to a banking family originated in Hongdong County, Shanxi, that immigrated to Tianjin in Ming Dynasty though his mother was from Pinghu
Pinghu
Pinghu municipality is situated in northeast Zhejiang Province, next to the East China Sea and Hangzhou Bay's north shore, close to China's largest city Shanghai. Prior to the Ming, Pinghu was part of Haiyan county. In 1430 Pinghu county was established...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
province.
In 1898 Li moved to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and joined the "Shanghai Painting and Calligraphy Association", and the "Shanghai Scholarly Society" while he was attending the Nanyang public school. In 1905 Li went to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to study at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
School of Fine Art in Ueno Park where he specialized in Western painting and music. In 1910 Li returned to China，and was appointed to Tianjin's Beiyang Advanced Industry School. The next year he was appointed as a music teacher in a girl's school in Shanghai. He went to Hangzhou in 1912 and became a lecturer in the Zhejiang Secondary Normal College. He taught not only Western painting and music but also art history. By 1915 Jiang Qian hired him as a teacher at Nanjing Normal College (renamed in 1949 to Nanjing University
Nanjing University
Nanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
), and taught painting and music. He also taught at Zhejiang Secondary Normal School (浙江两级师范学堂), the predecessor of famous Hangzhou High School
Hangzhou High School
Hangzhou High School , or Hangzhou Senior High School, established in 1899, is a high school in China. There are 46 academicians who graduated from the institution.-Hanggao Observatory:...
(浙江省杭州高级中学).
During these later years, Li’s reputation grew, as he became the first Chinese educator to use nude models in his painting classes, not to mention as the first teacher of Western music in China. Some of the students, like Singapore artist Chen Wen Hsi (陈文希）whom he personally groomed went on to become accomplished masters of the arts in their later days. Li Shutong himself was also an accomplished composer and lyricist. Many of his compositions are still remembered and performed today.
In 1916, Li underwent a 21-day fast at a temple in Hangzhou, and experienced the benefit of a spiritual life. The following year, he took refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism. After spending another year there, Li began a new chapter in his life by choosing to be ordained as a monk, and thus began a holistic life dedicated to propagating Buddhism and its code of conduct. After becoming a monk he only practiced calligraphy, developing a simple and unadorned, yet unique style, which everyone who received a sample of treasured. He became known to all as Master Hong Yi. In 1942, Master Hong Yi died peacefully at the age of 63 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.
Important works
Collections- Happy Stones
- Li Shutong's Seals
Articles
- tu hua xiu de fa 图画修得法
- shui cai hua fa shuo lue 水彩画法说略
Lyrics
- Song: Farewell
Music
- Song: Childhood memories
- 送别歌 Farewell song
长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天，Beyond the long pavilion, near the ancient route, beautiful grass connecting the sky,
晚风拂柳笛声残，夕阳山外山。The evening wind comforts the willows with the wave of a Chinese flute play, the setting Sun beyond the mountains.
天之涯，海之角，知交半零落，On the brink of the sky, in the corner of the sea, there are only a few knowing friends,
一瓢浊酒尽余欢，今宵别梦寒。We enjoyed the remaining happiness after a cup of translucent wine, please do not dream cold tonight.
长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天，Beyond the long pavilion, near the ancient route, beautiful grass connecting the sky,
晚风拂柳笛声残，夕阳山外山。 The evening wind comforts the willow leaves with the remainder of a Chinese flute play, the setting Sun is beyond the mountains.
See also
Master Hong Yi and his calligraphy- Feng ZikaiFeng ZikaiFeng Zikai was a Chinese painter and cartoonist - he graduated from the famous Hangzhou High School .-Background:Originating from the Tongxiang Prefecture of Zhejiang Province, Feng Zikai was a contemporary painter, writer, and teacher of music. In his early years, he was taught by the...
- HuinengHuinengDajian Huineng was a Chinese Chán monastic who is one of the most important figures in the entire tradition, according to standard Zen hagiographies...
- List of buddhist poems
- Shanhui