Xie Lingyun

CHINA, Zhejiang, Shaoxing; Eastern Jin to Liu Song dynasty (317–479)

Xie Lingyun was a painter and poet whose ancestors were from Yangxia of Chenjun (present day Taikang, Henan), but he was born in Kuaiji (present day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). He was also known as Xie Kangle after being bestowed the title of Kangle Gong (Sir Kongle). He was studious in his youth and became erudite in poetry, literature, calligraphy, and painting.
He took refuge in Buddhism and learned under the eminent monk, Zhu Daosheng. He wrote the essay Bian Zhong Lun, which elucidated the concept and thoughts on sudden enlightenment proposed by Daosheng. During the rule of Emperor An (reigned 405–418) of the Eastern Jin dynasty, alongside Master Huiyuan, he established the White Lotus Society. He also composed the Pure Land Song and authored Commentary on the Parinirvana Sutra, Commentary on the Diamond Sutra, among others.
The six murals of Bodhisattvas he painted on the outer walls of the Heavenly King Hall at Ganlu Temple in Jiangsu were documented in Famous Paintings in History.