Former Residence of Yang Wenhui

Former Residence of Yang Wenhui

The former residence of Yang Wenhui is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yang Wenhui, styled Renshan, was a native of Shidai County, Anhui Province, born in the 17th year of the Daoguang reign (1837). From childhood, he studied but did not enjoy the imperial examination system. When the Taiping Rebellion forces invaded Anhui in the 3rd year of the Xianfeng reign (1853), he and his family moved around for a decade. During that period, he learned phonology, calendrics, astronomy, geography, as well as the teachings of Huang-Lao and Zhuang-Zi. In the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign (1864), due to illness, he focused on reading books related to self-cultivation. He came across the *Mahayana Awakening of Faith*, read and contemplated it repeatedly to grasp its profound meaning. Later, he also encountered the *Shurangama Sutra*, which further inspired him and deepened his interest in studying Buddhist scriptures. In the 5th year of the Tongzhi reign (1866), he moved to Nanjing to work in the engineering sector. Among his colleagues was Wang Meishu from Zhengding, who had profound knowledge of Buddhism, and they often exchanged insights. He also met Wei Gangji, Zhao Huifu, Liu Kaisheng, Zhang Puzhai, Cao Jingchu, and others. Through discussions, they realized that most of the woodblocks used for printing Buddhist scriptures at the time had been destroyed, which greatly affected the dissemination of Buddhism. They decided to revive the scripture engraving efforts. As a result, the Jinling Scripture Engraving Office was established, where funds were raised to re-carve Buddhist scriptures in booklet form, with Yang himself serving as the proofreader. Among the strongest supporters of this initiative was Zheng Xuechuan from Jiangdu, who became a monk under the name Miaokong and set up the Jiangbei Scripture Engraving Office in Zhuanqiao, Yangzhou, working in coordination with the Jinling office. In the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873), Yang Wenhui began researching Buddhist statuary. He designed structures and commissioned painters to create illustrations such as the "Splendid World of Ultimate Bliss" and the "Goddess of Mercy with a Thousand Arms." He also collected ancient famous paintings of Buddhist figures and had them engraved and distributed. In the 4th year of the Guangxu reign (1878), he joined the diplomatic service and accompanied the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom and France, traveling to London and Paris. In the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886), he went to London again and met the Japanese Buddhist monk Nanjo Bunyu, who was studying abroad. Three years later, after completing his diplomatic term, he returned home at the age of 53. Disillusioned with the political situation, he resolved to withdraw from politics and dedicate himself entirely to the study of Buddhist scriptures. He maintained contact with Nanjo Bunyu, who helped acquire over 280 types of writings by ancient Chinese masters that were not included in the Buddhist canon, selecting the important ones for carving and printing. At the same time, he assisted Japan in editing the *Continued Tripitaka*, contributing numerous commentaries and esoteric Buddhist texts. In the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894), together with the British missionary Timothy Richard, he translated the *Mahayana Awakening of Faith* into English, making it available overseas. The following year, he met Anagarika Dharmapala from Sri Lanka in Shanghai. He strongly supported Dharmapala’s vision of reviving Buddhism in India through the Maha Bodhi Society and began preparing textbooks such as the *Elementary Study Guide* and planning to establish schools to train talent in support of this movement. Through these efforts, he made significant contributions to the cultural exchange of Buddhism among China, Japan, and India. In the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1897), he built a residence on Yanling Lane in Nanjing, which also served as a storage place for scripture woodblocks and distribution center for Buddhist texts. Four years later, he donated the house to the scripture engraving office. In the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908), he realized his plan to establish a school at the engraving office, founding the Qihuan JingShe (Monastery of the Pure Land), enrolling over ten monks and lay students, whom he personally taught Buddhism. Notable students included Tai Xu and Qiu Ximing. The school operated for two years before closing due to financial constraints. In the 2nd year of the Xuantong reign (1910), Yang Wenhui founded the Buddhist Studies Research Association and served as its primary lecturer. By this time, feeling that the *Continued Tripitaka* compiled in Japan was disorganized, he created his own catalog for the *Collected Essentials of the Tripitaka*, which included 460 essential texts and commentaries totaling more than 3,300 volumes, planning to engrave and distribute them gradually. He also intended to write summaries of the Tripitaka and the Continued Tripitaka to guide readers in their studies. In the autumn of the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign (1911), he fell ill. Before passing away on August 17 at the age of 75, he entrusted the affairs of the scripture engraving office to the members of the research association and assigned the management of the office to Ouyang Jian, Chen Jingqing, and Chen Yi. True to his will, he did not wish to be separated from the scripture woodblocks he had dedicated his life to, so his body was buried within the engraving office grounds, and a memorial stupa was erected in his honor. His published works include *A Brief Commentary on the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra*, *The Elementary Study Guide of Buddhism* and its *Commentary*, *A Brief Explanation of the Ten Schools of Buddhism*, *Expositions on the Yin Fu Jing, Dao De Jing, Zhuang Zi, and Lie Zi*, *Expositions on the Analects and Mencius*, *Miscellaneous Records of Equal and Unequal Views* (eight volumes), *A Brief Discussion on the Contemplation Sutra*, *A Compilation on Expounding the Teachings*, all of which have been engraved and printed.

Over forty years, Yang Wenhui greatly influenced modern Chinese Buddhism through his dual focus on scripture engraving and teaching. Although his ambitious project, the *Collected Essentials of the Tripitaka*, remained unfinished, many key texts were successfully engraved and published. Essential scriptures long lost in China—such as six of the ten commentaries by Xianshou, Jiaxiang’s *Three Treatise Commentaries*, Cien’s *Yogacara Theory Record* and *Hetuvidya Record*, and Shandao’s *Contemplation Sutra Commentary*—were sourced from Japan, meticulously proofread, engraved, and circulated. This enriched the content of the Buddhist canon and inspired scholarly research, enabling balanced propagation of various Buddhist schools. Under his guidance at the Buddhist Studies Research Association, members such as Tan Sitong, Gui Baihua, Li Duanfu, Mei Guangxi, Li Zhenggang, and Ouyang Jian each excelled in their respective traditions, achieving remarkable expertise.

As for Yang Wenhui’s own Buddhist philosophy, he emphasized the Pure Land path, holding in high esteem the Four Great Masters of the late Ming (Lianchi, Zibo, Hanshan, and Ouyi). He adopted a conciliatory approach toward various Buddhist schools and external doctrines, often expressing the principle of “regarding Xianshou as doctrinal authority, but practicing Amitabha.” He conducted in-depth studies and offered precise insights into Xianshou school writings, such as having the text *The Chapter on Samadhi of the Avatamsaka Sutra* authenticated and published under his guidance. He also traced the intellectual origins of scholars like Qingliang and Guifeng, placing special emphasis on the *Mahayana Awakening of Faith* and the *Profound Text of the Matrix*, aiming to use the integrative approaches of these two texts to encompass all teachings. While he held Xianshou in highest regard, he tailored his guidance for students based on their aptitudes, encouraging them to explore other schools as well. Thus, his approach to Buddhism was comprehensive, broad in scope, and highly influential in his time.

Yang Wenhui (1837–1911), courtesy name Renshan, also known as Lay Buddhist Renshan, was a native of Shidai (now part of Taiping, Anhui). He was a Buddhist scholar of the late Qing Dynasty. He began formal study at age 10, was capable of writing essays at 14, disliked the imperial examination system, and enjoyed composing poetry with friends in a carefree manner. He also had a passion for horseback riding and martial arts. After the outbreak of the Taiping Rebellion, he organized local militias to help suppress the uprising and later served in the retinues of Zhang and Zhou Tianjue. After the fall of the Taiping rebels, he entered the service of Zeng Guofan, overseeing grain administration, managing engineering projects in Jiangning, and administering the salt bureau in Hankou. In the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign (186... More details about Yang Wenhui ++