Biography Chan Master Guyue 古月禅师

During my visit to Bifeng Temple 碧峰寺 in Fuqing 福清, China, the abbot gave me a copy of Chan Master Guyue's biography, edited by Prof. Lin Guanchao. Master Guyue was an influential monk at the end of the Qing dynasty, espcially in Fujian.

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%8F%A4%E6%9C%88/2198584

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Gift of Tanaka Ryohei 田中良平 Etching of Manpukuji from Petrie Rogers Asian Fine Art and Antiques in Tucson

I want to thank my friend for giving us this precious gift, Tanaka Ryohei 田中良平 Etching of Manpukuji from the Petrie Rogers Asian Fine Art and Antiques in Tucson. It now hangs in my study. It is no. 11 out of 150. Three years ago, I posted a short introduction to this piece of art about Manpukuji. Click here for details.

This etching is featured in the banner of his homepage here. I don't know how much it is worth. But you can ask through this website.

Obaku Watch

Do you know there is a brand of watches named after Obaku? The business idea was inspired by the ideal of Obaku Zen and the watches reflect the simplistic Zen spirit. I bought one and it looks great. Check out here.

"ZEN PHILOSOPHY
Obaku takes its name from a branch of the Zen philosophy that was founded in 1661 at the foot of Mount Obaku.

Obaku Zen focuses on incorporating a total balance in body and mind. It is a way of being – simply a state of mind. Obaku Zen tries to see things without distortion and to concentrate on the essentials created by your own thoughts and nature. In Asia the Zen philosophy has molded a set of basic values that pay tribute to simplicity and the search for the essence in life. It values the truth and calmness.

The idea that there should be a sense of calmness and balance in the items we consume to adorn ourselves, is what gave birth to Obaku. In Asia, Zen philosophies have given rise to natural simplicity – in both thoughts and act.

The Obaku logo is inspired by the Zen calligraphic circle of life, also known as the Enso, which in Japanese means ‘circle’. It symbolizes strength, elegance, and is an expression of the moment. The calligraphic Enso refers to a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body and spirit create." quoted from https://www.obaku.com/obakustory

Ming-dynasty Style Chanting in Today's Manpukuji 黄檗山 萬福寺と雲水の一日 京都・宇治

It is amazing that Japanese monks in today's Manpukuji 萬福寺 in Uji 宇治 still chant liturgy in Chinese pronunciation. I recommend this short video to study the liturgical tradition Yinyuan Longqi 隱元隆琦 brought to Japan. Pay attention to 5:00'' and see how a monk chanted “謹白大眾, 生死事大，無常迅速，各宜醒覺，慎勿放逸。” in recognizable Chinese. It is clear that today's Chinese monastic liturgy originated from the seventeenth century.

Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen 深圳弘法寺

In May 2015, I visited the Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen 深圳弘法寺 and met with Ven. Yinshun 印顺. The temple was built by Master Benhuan 本焕, who also built the Zhong Hua Chinese Temple 中華寺 in Lumpini, Nepal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongfa_Temple

William W. Rockhill 柔克义(1854－1914) on Buddhism

William W. Rockhill 柔克义(1854－1914) is one of the earliest scholars of Buddhism. He has published the following interesting works about Buddhist canon, the life of Buddha, Tibet and China.

Udânavarga: A Collection of Verses from the Buddhist Canon (1883)
Prâtimoksha sutra; ou, Le traité d'émancipation selon la version tibétaine: avec notes et extraits du Dulva (Vinaya)'' (1884)
with Ernst Leumann and Nanjo Bunyu, The Life of the Buddha: And the Early History of His Order'' (1884)
The Land of the Lamas: Notes of a Journey Through China, Mongolia and Tibet (1891) [1] [2]
Explorations in Mongolia and Tibet (1893)
Diary of a Journey Through Mongolia and Thibet in 1891 and 1892 (1894) [3] [4] [5]
Journey through Mongolia and Tibet, 1891 and 1892 (1894)
Notes on the Ethnology of Tibet: Based on the Collections in the U.S. National Museum (1895)
The Journey of William of Rubruck to the Eastern Parts of the World (1900) [6] [7]
with Sarat Chandra Das, Journey to Lhasa and Central Tibet (1902)
China's Intercourse with Korea from the XVth Century To 1895 (1905)
Diplomatic Audiences at the Court of China (1905)

The Dalai Lamas of Lhasa and Their Relations with the Manchu Emperors of China. 1644-1908 (1910)
 His biography can be accessed here through Wikipedia and Sogou baike.

2013 Obaku Study Tour Essays in Chinese and Japanese

I am glad that my report on my 2013 visit to Japan have been published in both Chinese and Japanese. Thanks for many people who have helped me during the trip and for publishing and translating my essay.

“Records of the Obaku Study Tour” 黄檗參學記 (Chinese version)

“Records of the Obaku Study Tour” 黄檗參學記 (Japanese version)

Note: 黄檗参学記(和訳) : 隠元禅師ゆかりの寺院を巡って Translated by Yang Kuei Hsiang 楊桂香,  Hayashi Masako 林正子, and Tanaka Shōzō 田中昭三. Obaku Bunka 黄檗文華 (135): 223-204, 2015. (Translated from Chinese)