No 395 of Living Life Series 1
another contribution by the shadow of the golden fan
Ji Gong was born as Li Xiuyuan (李修元) and the only son of a respectable wealthy military advisor. His parents were without child and were told that they did not have descendant’s luck by a fengshui master. They were saddened by the misfortune of not having a child. They descided to seek the gods for help and visited temples to seek blessings.
At a Buddhist temple, they entered the hall of the 500 Arahats. The image of Mahakasyapa fell off from the altar. Not long after that, Ji Kong was conceived, his mother believed that the baby in her womb was a gift from the Buddhas. The parents thought that the gods had blessed them and when Li Xiuyuan was born, they thus believed he was the reincarnation of Arahat Mahakasyapa.
At the agen 18, Li Xiuyuan after demise of parents during war went to Hangzhou to the famous temple Ling Yin Temple so as to be a monk. He took on the monastic name of Dao Ji Chan Shi but more commonly known as Dao Ji.
It was said that as he was from a wealthy family, he was used to eating meat and drinking wine. Thus he was unable to give this up. Adding to this, he was even queer and appeared crazy to some. He was not even accorded ceremonial monk robes and had to don informal grey garment of a monk. Often this would be torn and patched up in many areas.
But whatever misgivings others had for him, he had a good heart and all were impressed by his kindness and generosity. The temple being Chan Zen Buddhists strictly prohibited eating of meat and drinking of wine more so by monks and they had to expel him from the temple.
But whatever misgivings others had for him, he had a good heart and all were impressed by his kindness and generosity. The temple being Chan Zen Buddhists strictly prohibited eating of meat and drinking of wine more so by monks and they had to expel him from the temple.
After being expelled from his monastic life, Dao Ji or Ji Gong did not bother to search for another monastery or temple. Though not recognised as a monk by the monastery, he was confident of himself and just roamed the streets like a pauper with no house or temple. He was often thought off as a beggar and as a monk as well because he was still in monk’s robes, albeit the informal grey garments of a monk.
He did continue in his oddities but he was always kind and compassionate. But though he looked poor and like a beggar, somehow he never had to beg for money. Probably, he had his inheritance to back him up but this is mere conjecture or speculation as there was no historical record of this. Even if true that he had retained his wealth, how on earth did he manage his wealth while roaming the streets and the countryside? God knows...
He practiced from the heart and was compassionate and emphatic. Though unaccepted by the monastic life, by cultivating from the heart, he reached perfection of a saint which he had in fact been cultivating even in past lives. This enabled him to help the poor, unfortunate and downtrodden but he did so in rather strange unassuming ways with no outward show or display of saintly airs and presence. In fact, this soon became another of the oddities.
He would often frequent the poor and beggars. He would listen to them, would joke and laugh with them and then say a prayer. This was like a ritual. After every such encounter, he would fan them with his magical fan as though to bless them. Soon after, good fortune would invariably befall them.
He thus became well known and earned him the title Ji Gong Huoto - Living Buddha Ji Gong. Ji is derived from his monk name Dao Ji. Gong is a term of respect for an elder and nobility. Huoto means living Buddha.
Thus it is no surprise that many consider him as the beggars’ deity or god. Many too consider him as the Ji Gong the god of wealth for he brings fortune to many. There are gold pendants in Taiwan with him holding a gold ingot. He is well regarded in Taiwan as a god of wealth.
With the coming of old age, Ji Gong could no longer roam freely and he resided in another monastery where he passed away on the 14th day of the 5th Lunar month from measles. Right after his death, Taoists adopted him as their deity, and stories abound to this day that he continuously manifest his compassionate and magical powers to everyone who keeps his image and go to him. Later Buddhists too consider him as a buddha.
He cares for all, more so the poor and the unfortunate and they are very comfortable with him as he is ever in his grey patchy robes and cap. He prefers to be on the floor than on seats of nobility. He will right the wrong that befalls men especially ordinary unfortunate folks. Some regard him as a Robin Hood of sorts. But he has the heart for those who have erred and is ever benevolent to those who amend their ways. He is thus more than a Robin Hood.
He brings fortune not just in cash but in kind and spirit of life into the lives of men. No wonder, his followers regarded him as the god of wealth in their lives, not just worldly wealth but in wealth of spirit and soul. He believes that what is important is what goes through the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does outwardly. He is exemplary to this day. He ate meat and drink wine and these do not stop him from being well regarded as a saint, deity and buddha.
He helps to balance the life of man so that man can reap blessings in life both worldly and spiritual. This has to do with the holistic wholesome cultivation of yin and yang that leads to divine peace and eventual enlightenment. He is the harbinger of wealth in life that is more than mere worldly mundane wealth. He enables wholesome divine wealth that money cannot buy. He is no ordinary run of the mill god of wealth. He is the Living Buddha.
He cares for all, more so the poor and the unfortunate and they are very comfortable with him as he is ever in his grey patchy robes and cap. He prefers to be on the floor than on seats of nobility. He will right the wrong that befalls men especially ordinary unfortunate folks. Some regard him as a Robin Hood of sorts. But he has the heart for those who have erred and is ever benevolent to those who amend their ways. He is thus more than a Robin Hood.
He brings fortune not just in cash but in kind and spirit of life into the lives of men. No wonder, his followers regarded him as the god of wealth in their lives, not just worldly wealth but in wealth of spirit and soul. He believes that what is important is what goes through the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does outwardly. He is exemplary to this day. He ate meat and drink wine and these do not stop him from being well regarded as a saint, deity and buddha.
He helps to balance the life of man so that man can reap blessings in life both worldly and spiritual. This has to do with the holistic wholesome cultivation of yin and yang that leads to divine peace and eventual enlightenment. He is the harbinger of wealth in life that is more than mere worldly mundane wealth. He enables wholesome divine wealth that money cannot buy. He is no ordinary run of the mill god of wealth. He is the Living Buddha.
His image is usually pictured as a monk in grey rugged clothing, holding a bottle of wine usually wu chia pi and a ‘magical’ fan. He always had a smiling face. All should pray to him and be blessed by him through his magic fan often referred to as the golden fan.
