16 Facts About Tanxu

Tanxu was a Chinese Buddhist monk and a 44th generation lineage holder of the Tiantai school, taught by Master Dixian.

Tanxu is known as one of the most influential monks to have had lived during the late Qing and Republican periods of Chinese history, spreading and invigorating the practice of Buddhism throughout the region.

Tanxu was famous for constructing several Buddhist temples and institutes in Northern China in the early 20th century.

Tanxu achieved renown through his buildings, due to his integration of European industrial construction techniques and traditional Chinese methods.

Tanxu was born as Wang Futing on July 3,1875, in Ninghe County, Hebei province, approximately thirty miles north of Tianjin.

Tanxu wished to receive a Confucian education; however, after four years, he decided to drop out of his schooling.

Tanxu left the apprenticeship after a duration of six months.

Tanxu's pharmacy flourished there, so much so that he could afford to return home to visit his wife and children.

Tanxu left home and visited a temple in Beijing, where he spent a week attending lectures by Master Baoyi.

Tanxu enrolled at the Guanzong Temple seminary, which had been founded to train a new generation of monks.

In 1920, Tanxu left Guangzong Temple to travel northward, and his career founding temples and schools, as well as lecturing, began.

Tanxu had a particular important role in spreading Buddhism to Harbin.

However, as Chinese control of the city grew in the 1920s, Tanxu visited the region.

In 1949, with assistance from Ye Gongchuo, Tanxu moved to Hong Kong.

Each Sunday, Tanxu lectured at the library, attracting large crowds to the small room on Boundary Street.

In May 1948, in response to the earnest request of his disciples, Tanxu started to lecture on his autobiography.