Sun Su Zhen
Encyclopedia
Sun Suzhen (1895-1975) was the Matriarch of I-Kuan Tao
(師母). She was the successor of Zhang Tianran, the last patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a new religious movement
. She was also known as Ming Shan (明善) or Hui Ming (慧明), her religious name.
Sun was born in Shan County, Shandong
province on the 28th day of the eighth lunar month in 1895. She was introduced to I-Kuan Tao in 1908 and became the student of Lu Zhongyi, there she met Zhang Tianran. Zhang took her as his second wife, which was believed to be Heaven's will and lifted her as the incarnation of Bodhisattva Yue Huei (Moon Wisdom), the wife of Ji Gong. Her followers regarded her to hold the seat of the 18th patriarch together with Zhang in 1930.
After the death of Zhang in 1947, she took control of I-Kuan Tao. Many of Zhang's followers followed her leadership. Only a small fraction stayed on with Madame Liu, the second wife of Zhang.
When the communists took over China in 1949, Sun moved to Hong Kong
. She then went to Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia for a short period (1951-52) then returned to Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong she was said to have left behind a large number of heavenly mandates (天命). Until today there are few elders in Hong Kong who were believed to be the keeper of these heavenly mandates.
In 1954, she moved to Taiwan
. Because I-Kuan Tao was illegal then, she kept a low profile and was kept under seclusion. She was sick in the last years and under the care of a nun surnamed Zhou in Taichung
. Later she was under the care of Wang Hao De
until her death. She died on the 23rd day of the second lunar month in 1975 (4 April 1975) one day before the death of Chiang Kai-shek
.
She was buried in Tashi, Taoyuan (桃園大溪鄉). She was given the title Zong Hua Sheng Mu (中華聖母) (Holy Mother of the Chinese) by her followers.
I-Kuan Tao
I-Kuan Tao, also Yīguàn Dào, or usually initialized as IKT is a new religious movement that originated in twentieth-century China. It incorporates elements from Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism, and recognizes the validity of non-Chinese religious traditions such as Christianity and...
(師母). She was the successor of Zhang Tianran, the last patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
. She was also known as Ming Shan (明善) or Hui Ming (慧明), her religious name.
Sun was born in Shan County, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
province on the 28th day of the eighth lunar month in 1895. She was introduced to I-Kuan Tao in 1908 and became the student of Lu Zhongyi, there she met Zhang Tianran. Zhang took her as his second wife, which was believed to be Heaven's will and lifted her as the incarnation of Bodhisattva Yue Huei (Moon Wisdom), the wife of Ji Gong. Her followers regarded her to hold the seat of the 18th patriarch together with Zhang in 1930.
After the death of Zhang in 1947, she took control of I-Kuan Tao. Many of Zhang's followers followed her leadership. Only a small fraction stayed on with Madame Liu, the second wife of Zhang.
When the communists took over China in 1949, Sun moved to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. She then went to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia for a short period (1951-52) then returned to Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong she was said to have left behind a large number of heavenly mandates (天命). Until today there are few elders in Hong Kong who were believed to be the keeper of these heavenly mandates.
In 1954, she moved to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Because I-Kuan Tao was illegal then, she kept a low profile and was kept under seclusion. She was sick in the last years and under the care of a nun surnamed Zhou in Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
. Later she was under the care of Wang Hao De
Wang Hao De
Wang Hao-te is the founder of the Maitreya Great Tao religion , which is based in Hsin Chu, Taiwan. This sect according to Taiwan's survey in 2004 has 100,000 members and 2000 temples. Wang was born in 1921, the 28th day of the 7th lunar month in a small village called Zhang Gu in Shandong...
until her death. She died on the 23rd day of the second lunar month in 1975 (4 April 1975) one day before the death of Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
.
She was buried in Tashi, Taoyuan (桃園大溪鄉). She was given the title Zong Hua Sheng Mu (中華聖母) (Holy Mother of the Chinese) by her followers.