11 Facts About Ji Gong

Daoji, popularly known as Ji Gong, was a Chan Buddhist monk who lived in the Southern Song.

Ji Gong purportedly possessed supernatural powers through Buddhist practice, which he used to help the poor and stand up to injustice.

Ji Gong is mentioned by Buddhists in folktales and koans, and sometimes invoked by oracles to assist in worldly affairs.

Ji Gong was mentored by the Vinaya master Huiyuan and was given the monastic name Daoji.

Ji Gong 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.

Ji Gong was widely recognized by people as the incarnation of the Dragon Subduing Arhat, one of the Eighteen Arhats.

Ji Gong is featured as an interlocutor in many classic koans of the Chan school.

Ji Gong usually carries a bottle of wine in his right hand, and a fan in his left hand.

Ji Gong wears a hat with the Chinese character Fo, meaning "Buddha".

Ji Gong can be seen holding his shoes in his right hand.

Ji Gong has been portrayed by numerous actors in films and television series from as early as 1939.