Introduction
Venerable Master Shi Wule was born in 1948 in Jincheng, Shanxi Province. From 1961 onward, his life became profoundly guided by the profound wisdom of Buddhism and the principle of "serving the people."
Early Life and Education
From a young age, Venerable Shi Wule developed a deep interest in Buddhist studies. In 1961, he encountered his root guru in Wuhan, who taught him to practice Chan through "serving the people." Over the following decades, he devoted himself to this path, discovering within it the key to a fulfilling and successful life. In 1975, he graduated from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music with a degree in violin performance, planting the seeds for his future mission of sharing the beauty of Chan through music.
Spiritual Practice and Social Service
In 1997, Venerable Shi Wule became the abbot of Hong'an Taiping Temple. Responding to the needs of the times, he proposed the principles of "Sacred Virtue as True Suchness: Attaining Buddhahood through Virtue" and "Harmonizing the World through Ritual and Music," advocating for cultural revitalization in monastic life. He pioneered the "Three Chan Cultures" (Chan Music, Chan Tea, and Chan Forest), dedicating himself to serving society through moral and cultural cultivation.
In 2003, at the invitation of the Hong'an County government, he came to Tiantai Mountain. By 2004, he had begun restoring the 1,400-year-old temple, establishing it as a center for authentic practice and cultural preservation. Despite his esteemed status in Buddhist circles, he chose an ascetic path, relinquishing all social positions (retaining only his role as chairman of the county Buddhist association) to focus on Chan practice and education in the mountains. He steadfastly led his disciples, eschewing worldly fame to uphold Chinese Chan Buddhism while engaging with contemporary society.
International Exchange and Chan Culture Propagation
In 2006, he founded the Arts Program at Wuchang Buddhist College. In 2007, during the temple's consecration ceremony, the eminent Chan master Jinghui publicly recognized him as his dharma heir, bestowing upon him the ancestral robe, whisk, and dharma scroll—symbols of the unbroken 2,000-year Chan lineage. Master Jinghui composed an affirmation verse praising his realization.
In 2008, he established an art troupe. The following year, at the International Medicine Buddha Dharma Assembly in Fujian's Puzhao Temple, the centenarian master Guangxuan—then the sole living dharma heir of Hongyi—publicly conferred upon him five sacred implements (dharma crown, ruyi scepter, whisk, dragon staff, and khakkhara), named the troupe "Guangxuan," and charged him with fulfilling Hongyi's vision of propagating Dharma through music.
Perseverance and Dedication
In 2007, a Singaporean tycoon offered substantial investment to promote him, but he declined, remaining true to authentic practice. By 2014, he founded the Buddhist Music College. In 2015, he established the all-monastic "Jinghui Symphony Orchestra," "Dawn Choir," and "Xianggen Dance Troupe," launching global tours to share China's peace-centered Chan culture.
In 2019, at age 71, he traveled to Madagascar to establish Xizu Temple, with many young monastics voluntarily joining. In 2023, he led performances in Mauritius and the United States before presiding over Xizu Temple's consecration and abbatial inauguration on October 27. The following year, his troupe performed at UNESCO headquarters before embarking on a 12-concert European tour across seven nations.
Vision and Conclusion
In 2025, Venerable Wule will continue deepening Chan practice while preparing for further European tours, disseminating Chinese Chan culture's message of peace and universal compassion. His lifelong vow remains: "To dedicate this body and mind to countless realms—this is how we repay the Buddha's grace."