Zhi Dun

Zhi Dun (; 314–366) was a Chinese Buddhist monk and philosopher. A Chinese author, scholar and confidant of Chinese government officials in 350, he claimed that all who followed Buddhism would, at the end of their life, enter Nirvana.

According to Kenneth Tanaka, Zhi Dun was a well respected scholar of Neo Daoist philosophy who became a Buddhist. Tanaka also writes that he "represents one of the earliest known Pure Land practitioners among the intellectual non ethnic Chinese".Tanaka, Kenneth K. 1990. ''The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Buddhist Doctrine: Ching-ying Hui-yüanʼs Commentary on the Visualization Sutra,'' p. 14. Albany: State University of New York Press. Tanaka also writes that in his works, Zhi Dun explained the metaphysical meaning of the term li (noumenon). Aside from his philosophical works, he also wrote various eulogies, one of which expresses his Pure Land faith in Amitabha and Sukhavati.

The following translation by E. Zürcher is an example of Zhi Dun's Pure Land faith, the earliest surviving example of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism:

In this country nowiki/>Sukhavati">Sukhavati.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Sukhavati">nowiki/>Sukhavatithere is no arrangement of royal regulations, ranks and titles. The Buddha is the ruler, and the three Vehicles are the [state] doctrine . . . . Whosoever in this country of Chin, in this era of sensual pleasures, serves the Buddha and correctly observes the commandments, who recites the Scripture of Amitabha*, and who [furthermore] makes a vow to be eorn in that country of ukhavati*without ever abandoning his sincere intention, will at the end of his life, when his soul passes away, be miraculously transported thither. He will behold the Buddha and be enlightened in his spirit, and then he will realize the Way. I, Tun, born at this late time, an onlyhope to follow the remaining traces f the doctrine and I do not dare to expect that my mind is bound for that spiritual country. Hence I had a painting made by an artisan, and erected this as a manifestation of the divine ower respectfully I look to the noble appearance f this Buddhain order to confront myself with Him whom adore likeHeaven.

In '' A Short History of Chinese Philosophy'', Feng Youlan recounts a story from the '' Shishuo Xinyu'' regarding Zhi Dun's fondness for cranes:

Once a friend gave him two young ranes When they grew up, Chih-tun was forced to clip their wings so that they would not fly away. When this was done, the cranes looked despondent, and Chih-tun too was depressed, and said: "Since they have wings that can reach the sky, how can they be content to be a pet of man?" Hence when their feathers had grown again, he let the cranes fly away.

References

314 births
366 deaths
4th-century Chinese philosophers
Chinese scholars of Buddhism
Jin dynasty (266–420) philosophers
Jin dynasty (266–420) essayists
Jin dynasty (266–420) Buddhist monks
Philosophers from Henan
Writers from Kaifeng

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