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3.9 (Tsai no.45) Ching-hui

The nun Ching-hui (Pure Radiance) (421-492) of Samantabhadra Convent

Ching-hui's secular surname was Yang. Her family was from Chien-k'ang [the capital of the Ch'i dynasty]. Her determination in the way of Buddhism was utterly sincere, and her joy in the teachings of the religion was exceptionally earnest. When she had first accepted all the monastic precepts for women, she received instruction from the masters of exegesis T'an-chi and Fa-yüan. She single-mindedly investigated the difficult subtleties of the Great Vehicle of Buddhism, and after ten years she was then herself a distinguished master.

The Ch'i heir apparent, Wen-hui (458-493) [eldest son of Emperor Wu], and the prince of Ching-ling, Wen-hsüan (460-494) [second son of the emperor], both treasured her. In the eighth year of the yung-ming reign period (490), the prince of Ching-ling invited her to his residence to give a lecture on the Vimalakīrti Scripture.

Later Ching-hui became the abbess of the convent, and young and old alike respectfully served her as though serving their parents. Those who followed her as disciples numbered over four hundred persons. In the tenth year of the yung-ming reign period (492), she died at the age of seventy-two.

At that time in the convent were the nuns Seng-yao and Kuang-ching, who were also known for their study and practice of Buddhism.

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IATHPublished by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003 by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia