Ruyuan (, 700-775 CE) was a Chinese Buddhist abbess and master, ''lüshi''. She was a member of the Li family of Longxi, one of the five most important families under the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

. She became a novice at the age of nine, a nun at twenty, and an abbess at the temple convent of Zhenhua Temple (真化寺) in

Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...

. She was a master within the

Chan Buddhism Chan (; of ), from Sanskrit '' dhyāna'' (meaning " meditation" or "meditative state"), is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and Song ...

and famed as a lecturer and organizer of religious rituals with a great circle of followers. She was favored by

Emperor Daizong of Tang Emperor Daizong of Tang (11 November 726According to Daizong's biography in the ''Old Book of Tang'', he was born on the 13th day in the 12th month of the 14th year of the Kaiyuan era of Tang Xuanzong's reign. This date corresponds to 11 Nov 72 ...

, who enlisted her to officiate at religious ceremonies at court and give lessons to his empress, wives and concubines. In particular, Ruyuan was noted as the teacher of Consort Dugu.

References

{{reflist * Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644 775 deaths Chinese Buddhist nuns 8th-century Chinese people 8th-century Chinese women 8th-century Buddhist nuns Buddhist abbesses