Tonghui Chanlin

Tonghui Chanlin

Tonghui Chanlin, originally named Tonghui An, was one of the east-wing dormitories of Huacheng Temple, the founding monastery of Jiuhua Mountain, during the Tang Dynasty. According to the *Jiuhua Mountain Records*, it is situated at the western foot of Dongya Cliff, east of Jiuhua Street, and was reconstructed in 1986, now standing for 27 years. The monastery enjoys a tranquil setting and classic elegance, backed by the majestic peaks of Dongya Cliff and facing the Ksitigarbha Pagoda and Tomb. Surrounded by towering ancient trees and with a murmuring stream flowing in front of the courtyard, the winding paths lead to secluded spots accompanied by birdsong and floral fragrance, making it an ideal place for spiritual cultivation and selfless service. From the veranda, the entire Jiuhua Street can be admired.

Tonghui Chanlin was first built in the early Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that its founding master was named Songlin. Ordained under Master Huiming of Jiuhua Mountain, she supported herself through her own efforts, refusing to solicit alms, and maintained a close bond with Wu Xiang of Tianlai Pavilion on Dongya. Later, Master Songlin, diligent and thrifty, personally prepared materials to construct a temple on the western slope of Dongya Cliff. Before the beam-raising ceremony, she chose an auspicious day and specially invited Wu Xiang to advise. Wu Xiang, after a quick calculation using the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, remarked, “This is not an auspicious day; a malevolent star will descend.” Songlin replied, “All things arise in mutual dependence; though this is not an auspicious day, there is something special about it.” In the end, she proceeded with the beam-raising on that day. During the ceremony, an elder approached from the direction of Huacheng Temple and asked the abbot, “Why are you raising the beam on an inauspicious day?” Songlin answered, “Though a malevolent star descends today, the Purple Star shines brightly to counteract it.” The elder was delighted and murmured to himself, “This monk is truly wise.” Songlin, hearing this clearly, immediately knelt down and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your benevolence. With such fortune bestowed upon this hermitage, I shall name it Tonghui.” It turned out that the elder was Emperor Kangxi, who was conducting an incognito inspection. Since then, another grand temple—Tonghui An—was added to the ancient monastic complex of Jiuhua Mountain.

During the Daoguang era (1821–1850) of the Qing Dynasty, Tonghui An was home to the poet-monk Jingjian. It was destroyed in the flames of war during the Xianfeng era. In 1881, the seventh year of the Guangxu reign, the presiding monk [name missing] raised funds to rebuild it. In 1923, the presiding monk was Wenze. From 1925 to 1937, the presiding monk was Bao Yan. In 1943, the presiding monk was Mira. In 1949, it was again Bao Yan. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple suffered damage, falling into disrepair and with its Buddha statues destroyed. In 1986, the bhikkhuni Master Renyi used her personal savings to restore the monastery to its original scale. The temple faces west, with a “Small Flower Hall” adjacent to the Grand Flower Hall in the northeast behind the main hall—a two-story, three-room building measuring 9 meters in length and 4 meters in width. To the north of the main hall are the dining hall and monks’ quarters. The southwest side is enclosed by a courtyard wall, surrounded by towering ancient trees. A murmuring stream flows in front of the courtyard, with winding paths leading to serene spots.

After Master Renyi’s restoration, she entrusted the monastery to her disciple, Master Sixiang. In June 1995, the presiding bhikkhuni Sixiang built the Guanyin Hall on the north side of the main hall—a residential-style, brick-and-wood structure spanning 230 square meters with a 7-meter-tall Guanyin statue enshrined inside. In November 1995, Master Renyi passed away at the age of 85. Following her instructions, her disciples preserved her body in a seated position in a jar. In January 1999, when the jar was opened, her body was found intact. It is now gilded and enshrined in Tonghui Chanlin, with plans to build the Yueshu Hall to house it, making it the first bhikkhuni relic in the Buddhist history of Jiuhua Mountain. In 2003, Master Sixiang renovated the Mahavira Hall and the Yueshu Hall. In the winter of 2010, she handed the monastery over to her disciple, Master Ruyan. In 2011, Master Ruyan renovated the mountain gate, Guanyin Hall, Small Flower Hall, and monastic quarters.

Shi Renyi, lay name Jiang Sumin, was born on August 23 of the lunar calendar in 1911, into a wealthy family in Xiuyan County, Liaoning Province. In the autumn of 1940, Jiang Sumin traveled to Mount Wutai in Shanxi, where she fulfilled her wish to become a nun at Xiantong Temple, taking the Dharma name Renyi. After ordination, she devoted herself to the path, immersed in practice, deeply studying the sutras, and balancing farming with meditation. In 1942, amid the wartime chaos on Mount Wutai, Master Renyi left the mountain and returned to the northeast, enrolling in Shenyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she specialized in acupuncture for four years. After the founding of the People’s Republic, religious policies emphasized education and reform, so Master Renyi returned to her hometown. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, she joined the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army and went to Korea in 1951. Over the three years in Korea, she endured immense hardships, rescuing and treating countless wounded soldiers. During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1970), Master Renyi devoted herself to Buddhist study, offering incense and chanting daily, but was detained by the Guangming Subdistrict Office in Tonghua City for allegedly promoting feudal superstition and making related remarks.

During the specific historical periods of the 1960s and 1970s, Master Renyi, through her unique practice, worked diligently, labored hard, and pursued neither fame nor profit. She provided medical care and performed countless good deeds, maintaining inner purity regardless of circumstances. After the Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee, when religious policies were reinstated, Master Renyi returned to Mount Wutai in 1982, receiving full precepts at Tayuan Temple. That same year, she restored Nanshan Temple. In 1983, she made a pilgrimage to Jiuhua, residing successively at Ganlu Temple, Bodhi Pavilion, and finally Tonghui Chanlin, where she used all her resources to restore the monastery. Thereafter, despite her advanced age, she continued to travel and provide medical care. She journeyed to Handan, Shijiazhuang, Hunyuan, and Mount Wutai, repairing temples, performing good deeds, and building connections with sentient beings along the way.

In April 1995, Master Renyi returned to Tonghui Chanlin on Jiuhua Mountain from Mount Wutai. On October 7 of the lunar calendar that year, she passed away at the age of 85. Following her will, Master Sixiang conducted the traditional Buddhist practice of placing her body in a seated jar. On January 2, 1999, after 3 years and 2 months, Master Sixiang opened the jar and found Master Renyi sitting upright inside, with her black-and-white hair having grown over an inch, teeth intact, skin pores clearly visible, and her body still elastic. The hand gesture she had held when placed in the jar—fingers interlocked—had changed; her right hand was slightly raised as if holding a needle, the posture she had maintained for decades while treating patients. Her relics are now enshrined in Tonghui Chanlin.