11 Facts About Yuanying

Yuanying was a Chinese Chan Buddhist master and the first Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of China.

Yuanying was born Wu Changfa and Wu Hengchun into a family of farming background in Pinghu Township of Gutian County, in Fujian province, in 1878.

Yuanying's parents died when he was six and then he lived with his uncle.

In 1917, Yuanying was elected Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of Ningbo, he establish two schools to promote the development of local education project.

Yuanying spread Chan Buddhism in Beijing in 1920 and then in Singapore and Penang Island in 1922.

In 1923, Yuanying returned to Quanzhou, he rebuilt the Kaiyuan Temple and founded kindergarten in the temple, which adopted more than 200 orphans.

In 1926, Yuanying went to Southeast Asia again to collect donations.

In 1929, along with Taixu and others, Yuanying formed the China Buddhist Association in Shanghai where he was President.

In 1930, Yuanying became the abbot of Tiantong Temple, where he taught Chan Buddhism for six years.

In 1953, Hsu Yun formed the Buddhist Association of China at Kuang Chi Monastery, Yuanying was elected its first Venerable Master.

In 2014, a historical drama film based on the early boyhood of Yuanying was shot in his hometown.