Li Shutong (1880-1942), also known as Li Xishuang, Li An, and Li Liang, was given the birth name Wentao, his childhood name Chengqi, his scientific name Guanghou, his courtesy name Xishuang, and his nickname Shutong.
Li Shutong is a famous musician, art educator, calligrapher, drama activist, and one of the pioneers of Chinese drama. After returning from studying in Japan, he worked as a teacher and editor. Later he was ordained as a monk. His Buddhist name was Yanyin, and his nickname was Hongyi. Later, he was also known as Wanqing Laoren. He was later revered as Master Hongyi.
In 1913, he was employed as a music and painting teacher at Zhejiang Normal School (later changed to Zhejiang Provincial First Normal School). From 1915, he served concurrently as a music and painting teacher at Nanjing Normal University, and composed the first school song in the history of Nanjing University.
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From splendid to dull, Li Shutong’s incomprehensible relationship with Shanghai:
On the 13th day of the seventh lunar month in 1918, Li Shutong visited Hangzhou Tiger He officially became a monk at Paosi Temple, became a monk with his hair cut off, wore cassocks, and his Buddhist name was Hongyi. There is no need to over-interpret or interpret Li Shutong’s conversion to Buddhism. He has the right to make life choices and the freedom to live in a way that suits his needs. The third phase of life that Li Shutong started after shaving off his hair and becoming a monk still has deep connections and frequent contacts with Shanghai.
Relying on the resources, economic factors, personal connections and social conditions of Shanghai, he did a lot of work to spread the Dharma and benefit the people, and carried out propaganda about patriotism and religion. In the autumn of 1927, when the maple leaves contained red leaves, Li Shutong came to Shanghai and stayed at the Jiangwan home of Feng Zikai, a student of Zhejiang Provincial First Normal School. As a disciple of Li Shutong, Feng Zikai was deeply influenced by his husband. I imitate with my heart and chase with my hands.
Having learned widely, he also worked on poetry, music, calligraphy and painting, and was good at editing and translation. He also studied in Japan. After returning to China, he founded Lida Academy in Shanghai and engaged in literature, art, music, translation and other work. Inspired by Li Shutong's advertising cartoons, he began publishing humanistic cartoons in 1924, integrating humor, childlike interest, enlightenment, and understanding. The society received enthusiastic response, and was suitable for all ages and was entertaining and educational.
In October 1925, "Zikai Comics" was published, and this was the beginning of the name of Chinese comics. This time Master Hongyi came to his home in Shanghai and personally presided over the ceremony of Feng Zikai's conversion to the Three Jewels, and gave Feng Zikai the Dharma name Yingxing. While Li Shutong was in Shanghai, he and Feng Zikai hatched a very important idea, preparing to compile a "Collection of Nursing Pictures" to promote kindness, respect God and love people, eliminate violence and abstain from killing, advocate environmental protection, promote vegetarianism, etc.
As Li Shutong said: "Use art as a convenience and humanitarianism as a principle." Therefore, the teachers and students worked together to find themes together. Feng Zikai made comics and Master Hongyi composed poems and essays. In 1937, when the Anti-Japanese War in Songhu was at its peak, Master Hongyi came to Shanghai. The New North Gate Hotel he stayed in was close to the Bund and was often bombed by Japanese invaders.
When Xia Beizun went to visit him, he encountered another Japanese attack. People fled to the air-raid shelters one after another. When Xia Beggar saw the master, his face was not shocked. He sat calmly and chanted sutras, facing the invaders. The fierceness is very contemptuous, showing a righteous, unyielding, and cold-hearted spirit. Three days later, Xia Beizun, Zhang Xichen and others invited the master to have lunch at Juelin Vegetarian Restaurant to reminisce about the past.
Then he invited the master to the photo studio to take a picture. The master had a clear face, kind eyebrows and kind eyes, and he had the demeanor of a fairy. Later this photo became the standard portrait of Master Hongyi. When Xia Beizun sent this photo to Feng Zikai, he wrote in the letter: "When Master Hongyi passed through Shanghai, he took a photo of him and sent one to borrow money to support him (the teacher's latest correspondence office: Quanzhou Chengtian Branch) ) This photo was taken before and after the fall of Dachang.
At that time, the air bombing in the suburbs of Shanghai was the most urgent. The teacher still had a smile on his face, but his hair and beard were grayer than before. "At a time when the nation was in danger and we were resisting foreign invaders. This classic photo of Master Hongyi staying in Shanghai calmly and confidently demonstrates a kind of awe-inspiring righteousness and bright faith. On October 10, 1939, Master Hongyi wrote his last words: "Sorrow and Joy" in the Wenling Nursing Home in Quanzhou, and passed away peacefully on October 13.
From the "twenty articles that shocked the world" that started in Shanghai, to studying abroad and returning to Shanghai to practice art, and then to the cause of Bodhi initiation in the sea, from Li Shutong to Master Hongyi, a generation of masters have a close and lasting relationship with Shanghai. It has become a brilliant chapter of maritime culture and art.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Li Shutong
People's Daily Online - From brilliance to dullness Li Shutong's incomprehensible relationship with Shanghai