Ji Gong (, 22 December 1130 – 16 May 1209), born Li Xiuyuan and also known as "Chan Master Daoji" () was a
Chan
Chan may refer to:
Places
*Chan (commune), Cambodia
*Chan Lake, by Chan Lake Territorial Park in Northwest Territories, Canada
People
*Chan (surname), romanization of various Chinese surnames (including 陳, 曾, 詹, 戰, and 田)
*Chan Caldwel ...
Buddhist monk who lived in the
Southern Song
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. ...
. He purportedly possessed supernatural powers, which he used to help the poor and stand up to injustice. However, he was also known for his wild and eccentric behavior, who didn't follow Buddhist monastic rules by consuming alcohol and meat. By the time of his death, Ji Gong had become a legend in Chinese culture and a deity in
Chinese folk religion
Chinese folk religion, also known as Chinese popular religion comprehends a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. Vivienne Wee described it as "an empty bowl, which can variously be filled ...
. He is mentioned by Buddhists in folktales and
kōan
A (; , ; ko, 화두, ; vi, công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement which is used in Zen practice to provoke the "great doubt" and to practice or test a student's progress in Zen.
Etymology
The Japanese term is the Sino-Jap ...
s, and sometimes invoked by oracles to assist in worldly affairs.
History
Originally named Li Xiuyuan, Jìgōng (济公) was born to a former military advisor Li Maochun and his wife Lady Wang in 1130 CE (other accounts say 1148). After the death of his parents at the age of 18, Li was sent to
Hangzhou
Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...
and was ordained as a monk in
Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple () is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The temple's name is commonly literally translated as Temple of the Soul's Retreat. It is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhis ...
, a temple of the Chán (Zen) school. He was mentored by the Vinaya master
Huiyuan and was given the monastic name ''Dàojì'' (道济, which could be interpreted as "Helper on the Way"). Unlike traditional Buddhist monks, Dàojì did not like following traditional monastic codes. He had a penchant for openly eating meat and drinking wine; his robes were often tattered and dirty from traveling from place to place, and he stumbled clumsily as walked from intoxication. However, Dàojì was kindhearted and was always ready to lend a helping hand to ordinary people. He would often treat the sick and fight against injustice. The monks, bewildered and fed up with his behavior, expelled Dàojì from the monastery. From then on, Dàojì roamed the streets and helped people whenever he could.
According to legend, while cultivating Buddhist practices, Dàojì attained supernatural powers. Many who noticed his eccentric yet benevolent and compassionate nature began to think that he was the emanation of a
bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood.
In the Early Buddhist schools ...
, or the incarnation of an
arhat
In Buddhism, an ''arhat'' (Sanskrit: अर्हत्) or ''arahant'' (Pali: अरहन्त्, 𑀅𑀭𑀳𑀦𑁆𑀢𑁆) is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved ''Nirvana'' and liberated ...
. He was widely recognized by people as the incarnation of the
Dragon Subduing Arhat (降龍羅漢, ''Xiánglóng Luóhàn''), one of the
Eighteen Arhats
The Eighteen Arhats (or Luohan) () are depicted in Chinese Buddhism as the original followers of Gautama Buddha (''arhat'') who have followed the Noble Eightfold Path and attained the four stages of enlightenment. They have reached the state of Ni ...
. Later he became known as Jìgōng (济公, "the Honorable Helper"), a title of respect derived from his monastic name, Dàojì (道济).
Toward the end of his life, he stayed at
Jingci Temple
Jingci Temple () is located at the foot of Huiri Peak of Nanping Hill. It is the second prominent Buddhist temple beside West Lake in Hangzhou, China. Together with Lingyin Temple, it is called the jewel of the southern and northern hills. The t ...
, and passed away on the 14th day of the 5th lunar month (May 16th, 1209), around the age of 79 (or 61 according to other chronicles). Later
syncretic
Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thu ...
Taoism
Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of Philosophy, philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of China, Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmo ...
began to revere Jìgōng as a deity. Not long after that, Chinese Buddhist institutions began to recognize his compassionate efforts, and was incorporated into Chinese Buddhism. He is also featured as an interlocutor in many classic
kōan
A (; , ; ko, 화두, ; vi, công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement which is used in Zen practice to provoke the "great doubt" and to practice or test a student's progress in Zen.
Etymology
The Japanese term is the Sino-Jap ...
s of the Chán (Zen) school.
Since at least the 1869s, mediums in China have claimed to receive texts from Jìgōng through
spirit writing
Automatic writing, also called psychography, is a claimed psychic ability allowing a person to produce written words without consciously writing. Practitioners engage in automatic writing by holding a writing instrument and allowing alleged spir ...
, later called
Fuji Fuji may refer to:
Places China
* Fuji, Xiangcheng City (付集镇), town in Xiangcheng City, Henan
Japan
* Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan
* Fuji River
* Fuji, Saga, town in Saga Prefecture
* Fuji, Shizuoka, city in Shizuoka Prefectur ...
(扶乩/扶箕 ''fújī''). These messages led to a further development of Jìgōng worship, which was actively promoted by the monk Fǎlún (法輪) at Hupao Temple (虎跑寺, ''Hǔpǎo Sì'') in
Hangzhou
Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...
, where Jìgōng’s grave is located. The channeled messages gradually acquired a moralistic tone, recommending charitable activities. Jìgōng’s messages received through 'spirit writing' played a role in the establishment of the Benevolent Relief Society (救濟善會, ''Jiùjì Shànhuì''), whose leaders later participated in the foundation of the
Red Cross Society of China
The Red Cross Society of China () is the national Red Cross Society in the People's Republic of China.
Origins and history before 1949
The Red Cross Society of China was founded as the Shanghai International Red Cross Committee on March 10, 19 ...
.
A new Buddhist movement, the
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
-based Tung Cheng Yuen Buddhist Association (), worship Jìgōng.
/ref> Yiguandao
Yiguandao / I-Kuan Tao (),; ko, 일관도, Ilgwando; th, อนุตตรธรรม, . meaning the Consistent Way or Persistent Way, is a Chinese salvationist religious sect that emerged in the late 19th century, in Shandong, to become C ...
has also adopted him into their pantheon of deities, citing Zhang Tianran
Zhang Tianran () (8 August 1889 – 29 September 1947) was the eighteenth patriarch as well as the founder of the I-Kuan Tao (Yiguandao) religious sect. He is usually referred to as the ''Father of I-Kuan Tao'', or as ''Shi Zun'' (), meaning th ...
, contemporary founder of the Yiguandao, as his reincarnation.
Depiction
Ji Gong can usually be seen smiling in tattered monastic robes, and usually carries a bottle of wine in his right hand, and a fan in his left hand. He wears a hat with the Chinese character ''Fo'' (), meaning "Buddha". He can also be seen holding his shoes in his right hand. Because of his carefree nature, he is rarely ever shown with a serious facial expression.
In popular culture
Ji Gong has been portrayed by numerous actors in films and television series from as early as 1939.
Books
Chinese novel ''Ji Gong Quan Zhuang'' () by Guo Xiaoting (). ''Adventures of the Mad Monk Ji Gong: The Drunken Wisdom of China's Most Famous Chan Buddhist Monk'', Guo Xiaoting; John Robert Shaw trs., Tuttle Publishing, 2014.
Films
* ''The Living Buddha'' (), a 1939 Hong Kong film starring Yee Chau-sui.
* ''Ji Gong, Reincarnated Buddha'' (), 1949 Hong Kong film starring Yee Chau-sui.
* ''How the Monk Chai Kung Thrice Insulted Wah Wan-Lung'' (), a 1950 Hong Kong film starring Yee Chau-sui.
* ''The Mischievous Magic Monk'' (), a 1954 Hong Kong film starring Hung Boh.
* ''A New Tale of the Monk Jigong'' (A New Tale of the Monk Jigong), a 1954 Hong Kong film starring Leung Sing-bo.
* ''Ji Gong Sets the Fire on the Impenetrable Pi-pa Spirit'' (), a 1958 Hong Kong film starring Leung Sing-bo.
* ''Ji Gong, the Living Buddha'' (), a 1964 Hong Kong film starring Sun Ma Sze Tsang
Tang Wing-Cheung (; 20 June 1916 – 20 April 1997), better known by his stage name Sun Ma Sze Tsang (), was a Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong.
Career
Born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, his parents divorced when he was eight. ...
.
* ''A Modern Ji Gong'' (), a 1965 Hong Kong film starring Sun Ma Sze Tsang
Tang Wing-Cheung (; 20 June 1916 – 20 April 1997), better known by his stage name Sun Ma Sze Tsang (), was a Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong.
Career
Born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, his parents divorced when he was eight. ...
.
* ''Ji Gong Raids the Courtroom'' (), a 1965 Hong Kong film starring Sun Ma Sze Tsang
Tang Wing-Cheung (; 20 June 1916 – 20 April 1997), better known by his stage name Sun Ma Sze Tsang (), was a Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong.
Career
Born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, his parents divorced when he was eight. ...
.
* ''Ji Gong Is After the Demon'' (), a 1965 Hong Kong film starring Sun Ma Sze Tsang
Tang Wing-Cheung (; 20 June 1916 – 20 April 1997), better known by his stage name Sun Ma Sze Tsang (), was a Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong.
Career
Born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, his parents divorced when he was eight. ...
.
* ''Ji Gong and the 8 Immortals'' (), a 1966 Hong Kong film starring Sun Ma Sze Tsang
Tang Wing-Cheung (; 20 June 1916 – 20 April 1997), better known by his stage name Sun Ma Sze Tsang (), was a Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong.
Career
Born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, his parents divorced when he was eight. ...
.
* ''The Magnificent Monk'' (), a 1969 Hong Kong film starring Cheung Kwong-chiu.
* ''The Living Buddha Chikung'' (), a 1975 Hong Kong film starring Yueh Yang.
* ''The Mad Monk'' (), a 1977 Hong Kong film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio
Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, and operated from 1925 to 2011.
In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shangh ...
, starring Julie Yeh Feng
Yeh Feng (; born 19 October 1937), also known as Julie Yeh Feng, is an actress, singer and businesswoman. She starred in various films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and is considered to have been one of Hong Kong's biggest stars of the period.
...
.
* ''The Mad Monk Strikes Again'' (), a 1978 Hong Kong film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, starring Julie Yeh Feng
Yeh Feng (; born 19 October 1937), also known as Julie Yeh Feng, is an actress, singer and businesswoman. She starred in various films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and is considered to have been one of Hong Kong's biggest stars of the period.
...
.
* ''Xin Ji Gong Huo Fo'' (), a 1982 Taiwanese film starring Hsu Pu-liao.
* ''The Mad Monk
''The Mad Monk'' ( is a 1993 Hong Kong fantasy comedy film directed by Johnnie To, and starring Stephen Chow as the "Mad Monk" Ji Gong, a popular Chinese folklore figure from the Southern Song Dynasty. The film follows "Dragon Fighter Luoha ...
'' (), a 1993 Hong Kong film starring Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow Sing-chi (, born 22 June 1962), known professionally as Stephen Chow, is a Hong Kong filmmaker, former actor and comedian, known for ''Shaolin Soccer'' and ''Kung Fu Hustle''.
Early life and education
Stephen Chow was born in British ...
.
* ''Ji Gong: Gu Cha Fengyun'' (), a 2010 Chinese film starring You Benchang
You Benchang (; born 16 September 1933) is a Chinese actor.
You is noted for his roles as Ji Gong in the television series ''Ji Gong'', which earned him a Best Actor Award at the 4th Golden Eagle Awards.
Early life and education
You was born ...
.
* ''Ji Gong: Cha Yi You Dao'' (), a 2010 Chinese film starring You Benchang
You Benchang (; born 16 September 1933) is a Chinese actor.
You is noted for his roles as Ji Gong in the television series ''Ji Gong'', which earned him a Best Actor Award at the 4th Golden Eagle Awards.
Early life and education
You was born ...
.
Television series
* ''Xianglong Luohan'' (), a 1984 Taiwanese television series produced by CTV, starring Hsu Pu-liao.
* ''Ji Gong
Ji Gong (, 22 December 1130 – 16 May 1209), born Li Xiuyuan and also known as "Chan Master Daoji" () was a Chan Buddhist monk who lived in the Southern Song. He purportedly possessed supernatural powers, which he used to help the poor and st ...
'' (), a 1985 Chinese television series produced by Shanghai TV and Hangzhou TV, starring You Benchang
You Benchang (; born 16 September 1933) is a Chinese actor.
You is noted for his roles as Ji Gong in the television series ''Ji Gong'', which earned him a Best Actor Award at the 4th Golden Eagle Awards.
Early life and education
You was born ...
.
* ''Hutu Shenxian'' (), a 1986 Taiwanese television series produced by TTV, starring Lung Kuan-wu.
* ''Buddha Jih'' (), a 1986 Hong Kong television series divided into a 2 part series, produced by ATV, starring Lam Kwok-hung.
* ''Daxiao Ji Gong'' (), a 1987 Taiwanese television series produced by CTS
Cts or CTS may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Television
* Chinese Television System, a Taiwanese broadcast television station, including:
** CTS Main Channel ()
** CTS Education and Culture ()
** CTS Recreation ()
** CTS News and Info () ...
, starring Shih Ying.
* ''Kuaile Shenxian'' (), a 1987 Taiwanese television series produced by TTV, starring Cheng Ping-chun.
* ''Ji Gong'' (), a 1988 Chinese television series produced by Shanghai TV and Hangzhou TV, starring You Benchang
You Benchang (; born 16 September 1933) is a Chinese actor.
You is noted for his roles as Ji Gong in the television series ''Ji Gong'', which earned him a Best Actor Award at the 4th Golden Eagle Awards.
Early life and education
You was born ...
and Lü Liang.
* ''Ji Gong Huo Fo'' (), a 1989 Chinese television series produced by CTPC and Ningbo Film Company, starring You Benchang
You Benchang (; born 16 September 1933) is a Chinese actor.
You is noted for his roles as Ji Gong in the television series ''Ji Gong'', which earned him a Best Actor Award at the 4th Golden Eagle Awards.
Early life and education
You was born ...
.
* ''Ji Gong Xin Zhuan'' (), a 1991 Taiwanese television series produced by CTV, starring Ku Pao-ming
Ku Pao-ming (; 8 April 1950 – 19 March 2022) was a Taiwanese actor and comedian.
He appeared with the in ''Art'' (2003), alongside Chin Shih-chieh and Lee Li-chun, as well as ''The Apartment'' (2006). Ku also performed in ''Legitimate Crimes'' ...
.
* ''Ji Gong'' (), a 1995 Taiwanese television series produced by TTV, starring Chou Ming-tseng.
*''The Legends of Jigong
''The Legends of Jigong'' is a Singaporean television series based on legends about Ji Gong (1130–1207), a Chinese Buddhist monk who is revered as a deity in Chinese folk religion and folk hero in Chinese culture. It was produced by the Televi ...
'' (), a 1996 Singaporean television series produced by TCS TCS may refer to:
Organisations
* Tata Consultancy Services, an IT company headquartered in India
* Taxpayers for Common Sense, a US nonpartisan federal budget watchdog organization
* TCS Courier, a Pakistani courier service
* Touring Club Suisse ...
(now Mediacorp
Mediacorp Pte. Ltd., doing business as Mediacorp and stylised as mediacorp, is a media conglomerate in Singapore. Owned by Temasek Holdings—the holding company of the Government of Singapore—it owns television, radio, and digital media prope ...
), starring Xie Shaoguang
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates ...
.
* ''Ji Gong Huo Fo'' (), a 1997 Taiwanese television series produced by CTV, starring Chou Ming-tseng and Lin You-hsing.
* ''The Legend of Master Chai
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' (), a 1997 Hong Kong television series produced by TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB ...
, starring Joey Leung
Joey Leung Wing-Chung (; born September 10, 1965), is a Hong Kong actor, director, screenwriter / playwright, program host (TV & Radio) and drama tutor.
Career
He has starred in movies such as ''Girl Boxer'' (2004), ''Master of Martial Arts'' (1 ...
.
* ''Ji Gong You Ji'' (), a 1998 Chinese television series produced by Zhejiang TV, starring You Benchang
You Benchang (; born 16 September 1933) is a Chinese actor.
You is noted for his roles as Ji Gong in the television series ''Ji Gong'', which earned him a Best Actor Award at the 4th Golden Eagle Awards.
Early life and education
You was born ...
.
* ''Zen Master'' (), a 2001 Hong Kong television series attributed from the 1986 series: Buddha Jih.produced by ATV, starring Karl Maka
Karl Maka (born 29 February 1944) is a Hong Kong film producer, director, actor and presenter.
Early life
On 29 February 1944, Maka was born as Mak Kar-sheung in Taishan, China. In 1958, at age 14, Maka moved to Hong Kong.
Education
In 1969 ...
.
* ''Ji Gong'' (), a 2007 Taiwanese television series produced by Formosa Television
Formosa Television () is a television station based in New Taipei, Taiwan. Established on March 27, 1996, FTV began broadcasting on June 11, 1997.
Formosa Television is also the first free-to-air television station which was established witho ...
, starring Lung Shao-hua.
* ''The Legend of Crazy Monk
''The Legend of Crazy Monk'' () is a Chinese television series about the life of Ji Gong. The series was directed by Lin Tianyi and based on Guo Xiaoting's classical novel ''Biography of Ji Gong''. It was a hot TV series recently in Guangdong Telev ...
'' (), a three-season Chinese television series produced by Shanghai Chongyuan Cultural Company and Hangzhou Baicheng Media Company, starring Benny Chan. The three seasons were released between 2009 and 2011.
* ''New Mad Monk
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...
'' (), a 2013 Chinese television series after Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow Sing-chi (, born 22 June 1962), known professionally as Stephen Chow, is a Hong Kong filmmaker, former actor and comedian, known for ''Shaolin Soccer'' and ''Kung Fu Hustle''.
Early life and education
Stephen Chow was born in British ...
's The Mad Monk
''The Mad Monk'' ( is a 1993 Hong Kong fantasy comedy film directed by Johnnie To, and starring Stephen Chow as the "Mad Monk" Ji Gong, a popular Chinese folklore figure from the Southern Song Dynasty. The film follows "Dragon Fighter Luoha ...
.produced by Lafeng Entertainment, starring Benny Chan.
References
External links
Tung Cheng Yuen Buddhist Association
*
*
* In popular culture
**
**
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daoji
1130 births
1209 deaths
Song dynasty Buddhists
Deified Chinese people
Buddhism in China
Rinzai Buddhists