Master Yuanlin's name is Daxiong Shanren, and his mountain monk is named Du Zhenshan. He is from Suzhou, Anhui Province. He is a monk who practices the secular world and is a master of contemporary Zen painting. At the age of 32, he became a monk in the school of Master Xi in Jia

Master Yuanlin (1915.9-2008.5), a mountain monk, with a sub-named Du Zhenshan, was from Suzhou, Anhui Province (Baixi County in Huaibei City in 1979), a monk of the heir practice, and a master of contemporary Zen painting . He lived for 93 years and became a monk for more than 60 years. At the age of 32, he became a monk in the school of Master Xi in Jiangpu Shiziling, Nanjing. He lived in seclusion in the mountains all year round. The master has been smart since childhood, and is proficient in calligraphy, painting and sculpture. He once made freehand statues for the contemporary eminent monk Xuyun. He studied under Master Hongyi , and once asked about Mr. Huang Binhong , and had a strong friendship with the contemporary Cao Sheng Lin Sanzhi. His landscape, characters, flowers, and calligraphy are all exquisite. In addition to practicing, the master uses calligraphy and painting as a Buddhist event, and uses Zen and ink to attract sentient beings. His compassion and wishes are like the sea, pointing directly to the hearts of people. It is another peak in Chinese Zen painting in the past thousand years after Southern Tang Juran, Southern Song Muxi, and Five Dynasties Guanxi. He was the honorary president of the Nanjing Buddhist Association and was hosted by the Tushita Temple in Jiangpu Shiziling, Nanjing. He is an outstanding contemporary painting monk , and is known as the number one monk in Jinling .

Appreciation of works:

My interaction with Master Yuanlin

Wu Weishan

　　My understanding with Master Yuanlin originated from the opening of the museum in 1992 Linsanzhi Art Museum opened in Jiangpu Qiuyushan. I saw a portrait of Master Yuanlin for Mr. Lin Sanzhi from a book, and there was a picture of Mr. Zhao Pu Lao. Mr. Sanzhi served as deputy county magistrate of Jiangpu County, and often went to Liziling to discuss calligraphy and painting experience with Master Yuanlin. On the portrait painted by Master Yuanlin on Lin Sanzhi, Zhao Puchu, chairman of the Chinese Buddhist Association, wrote a poem saying, "Its appearance is silent, its shady, it is sad and similar to autumn, and its sacredness is like spring." Master Yuanlin has painted Mr. Lin many times, and this painting is the most famous. I have also made statues for Mr. Lin twelve times, and I always think of its charm and sculpt it with clay. Master Yuanlin paints Mr. Lin, and I paints Mr. Lin. We found something in common, so we also had the intention to pay homage to Master Yuanlin. Mr. Zhang Jiping, who was then the deputy county magistrate of Jiangpu County, happily agreed and accompanied me to go there.

　　Jiangpu Tushita Temple is hidden deep in the dense forests of the cliffs in the heart of Shiziling. It is a small mountain road, which is far and remote, and you need to walk to reach the top of the mountain. Someone from the peer asked: Why didn’t you drive a mountain road? It is said that Master Yuanlin said: Those who want to come will come. I don’t seek to be knowledgeable, but I just want to be pure and meticulous. The master can eliminate all appearances and break all attachments, which truly makes people feel respectful.

　　After entering the temple, it is simple and simple, with a mountain and forest atmosphere. The temple hall is majestic and dignified. All of this was planned and built by the monk himself. Since the monk was elected as the abbot of Tushita Temple in 1982, he has devoted himself to the restoration and reconstruction of the temple. All the couplets and murals in the temple were created by Master Shan during his stay. The murals of the Buddha statues, the Maitreya Buddha statues, and the plaques written by themselves are all exquisite. And he spent all day in his own room, which was actually an extremely ordinary bungalow, painting and writing, and giving it to others as he pleased. In modern , Master Hongyi , he used calligraphy to attract the public. He said: "Indulging in calligraphy and increasing indifference is a profound warning from the Buddha. However, those who study it can do their best, so that they can write Buddhist scriptures and spread them to the world. It is not useless to make all sentient beings happy and uphold, benefit themselves and others, and enjoy the Buddhist path together." Therefore, engaging in Buddhist calligraphy and painting is also an convenient method for Master Yuanlin to practice and make connections with the public.

　　The master's landscape paintings are ancient and quiet and ethereal. When rubbing, rubbing, dots and dyeing, it is sophisticated and full of the essence of Huang Binhong Xin'an Painting School. The murals on the wall were painted by a monk with cotton tied on a stick. The lines were solemn and ancient, and they could not be carefully drawn. Therefore, they were flexible and natural. The figure paintings were the highest, with the figure paintings of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the shrimps of the world and Baishi, and the horses of the Xu Beihong, were both beautiful. The statues of Guanyin are all thick, moist and round, like jade, and all have a kind face, solemn and compassionate, without any trace of the worldly spirit. The monk's religious sentiment of comprehending life, having no worries, and pious worship of Buddha is vividly reflected on the paper and mist between the brush and ink.His calligraphy is directly based on the style of Li Shutong , and his hands are mellow and mellow. I also talked with the contemporary Cao Sheng, Mr. Lin Sanzhi, so I can have his own appearance. I like the free body of the wizard more, and it shows more character in the ups and downs. The master's Amitabha statue is simple and comfortable, very accented, without any pretentiousness or pretentiousness. It truly shapes the Buddha nature of freedom.

　　I went to the mountain to meet the master many times later. I taught my religious art class at Nanjing University , emphasizing the combination of theoretical research and field investigation. I once led a master's and doctoral degree in religious art to listen to the master's lecture on Buddhism and art. The master sincerely reminded these young students that those who like to draw should draw more Buddhas and never draw randomly. To recite the Buddha's name and become a Buddha, and to recite the ghosts and become a ghost.

Once at the request of a very identifiable businessman, I asked the leader of Jiangpu County and Master Yuanlin's younger brother to go up the mountain to visit. On the mountain, the good men and women had already lined up in a long queue waiting for the master to receive and teach. The master's younger brother was worried that we would be long-lasting, so he went up to tell Master Yuanlin that the county leaders and important figures came, but the reply was: Everyone came, all sentient beings are equal, and everyone is treated equally, please queue up in sequence. Later, the boss had a mundane task and couldn't wait to leave. I felt sorry for him and lamented that he had no connection with the Buddha. However, the Lotus Sutra says: When the World Honored One was alive, an old man asked to become a monk with the Buddha. The great Arhat observed that the old man had no good cause in the past five hundred lifetimes and could not become a monk. But the Buddha agreed and told his disciples that the old man was once a woodcutter who was chopping wood on the mountain and encountered a tiger trying to eat him. In fear, he climbed onto a big tree and called out "Namo Buddha" casually! The cause sown by the "Namo Buddha" was not only met by the Buddha after countless kalpas, but he was finally ordained and became a monk. I think although he did not meet Master Yuanlin this time, he only made a shallow relationship, but if he had the intention to visit, he would plant good causes and look forward to the fate!

　　I also took my wife to see the old master. Yuanlin was very happy to see my wife's kind-hearted eyes. After asking, I learned that she was the principal of kindergarten and was engaged in early childhood education. He said that this was a matter of accumulating virtue and doing good deeds. Then he drew a Guanyin for my wife and took out a couplet to give it to him: the light shines like stars and moons, the realm of wisdom and other voids, they have been hanging in the living room of my home.

　Another time, I accompanied the famous Chinese sculptor and professor of of the University of Paris, France. Mr. Xiong Bingming . Mr. Xiong was also 80 years old. He was the son of the great mathematician Xiong Qinglai . In his early years, he studied and learned profoundly. He was well-versed in carving, painting, calligraphy, and poetry, and both theory and practice were introduced. Master Yuanlin looked at Mr. Xiong carefully and said, "You are a very kind person." Mr. Xiong smiled innocently. The two of them fell in love with each other at first sight and felt that they were destined to be together." Master Yuanlin immediately drew a portrait of Mr. Xiong, which looked like Mr. Bingming. Mr. Xiong also drew a sketch of Master Yuanlin's burnt ink on the spot. I also drew a picture to record Mr. Xiong's visit to Master Yuanlin. Now, Mr. Xiong passed away as early as 2003 and died in Paris. Master Yuanlin also quietly passed away not long ago, thinking about the special causes and conditions for making friends with art at that time, which are vividly present. Now the art and the church world have lost their talents, so why isn’t it a pity!

　　There is another meaningful little thing in my interaction with Master Yuanlin. Once, the master wrote an inscription for me and wrote the word "无" in my name "无" as "无". The bystander said that he had written it wrong and added "无" more. The master smiled calmly: Only when there are mountains and waters can you turn it up. Everyone was relieved. But I think this is a deeper enlightenment from the mage. Zen Master Baizhang Huaihai of Tang Dynasty said: "When you release the water buffalo in Weishan, no one holds the nose of the bull, the green willows and fragrant grass on the spring breeze, and you can sleep freely." My name is Shan, which is homophonic to Zen Master Weishan, and is also a ox, which is in line with the case of "Weishan Cow". Master Yuanlin must have used the opportunity of giving inscriptions and making connections with calligraphy and painting to warn me to open the cow's nose rope from my heart, release the water buffalo, break free from all constraints, and clearly see my flexible nature, free and free.In the end, we reach the state of "living high and sleeping horizontally" in life and art. The mind and nature are naturally in line with the Tao, and everything is the same.

Later, at the request of the monks and lay disciples of the master, he conveyed his wish to make a statue of the master through Mr. Jiping. Since I have crafted a statue of Mr. Lin, Master Yuanlin is quite appreciative of this proposal and appreciates it very much. The enthusiastic believers made an appointment early. Unfortunately, I suddenly had a high fever that day and was very uncomfortable, but I thought this was an agreement with Buddhism and it must not be changed, so I arrived as scheduled. I remember that the weather was extremely cold that day. Considering the mage's health, some people suggested giving up. Seeing that I was sincerely fulfilling the contract, the mage insisted on coming out to see me without caring about the obstruction of good intentions. We sat in a small garden full of wild fun behind his room, with sparse bamboos and a small pond, and a few pots of Buddha hand , which were filled with yellow and green, which was very gratifying. The mage sat there quietly like a bell, emitting majesty and solemnity throughout his body, and there was infinite compassion and peace in the solemnity. I quickly devoted myself to creation, and more than a dozen of my graduate students watched. After a while, a statue made for Master Yuanlin was completed. Amid the feelings, praise and laughter of everyone, I was sweating profusely and almost exhausted, and then I was taken down the mountain. This statue has always been with me now. Although many people are sincere or greedy and ask me for it, I have never cast it into bronze or turned it up because I think there can only be one statue of Master Yuanlin, and there is this only one.

　　Looking back over the past 20 years, I have visited many temples, most of which are magnificent. The Dushi Temple maintains its pure nature and is a place for high monks to practice. In recent years, the incense has been very popular, and the pilgrims in Tushita Temple are also characterized by simple and piousness. Everyone offers them at will and everything goes with the flow. Since Master Yuanlin came to the mountain, he has been practicing and preaching for more than 20 years. He has influenced others and his disciples in this way. I think this influence will continue to spread in the future.

　（Wu Weishan: Vice Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association and President of the Chinese Sculpture Academy)