Fazang

CHINA, Shaanxi, Xi’an; Tang dynasty

Fazang, born in Chang’an (present day Xi’an, Shaanxi), was a monk and calligrapher who officially founded the Huayan school of Mahayana Buddhism in China. He was the school’s Third Patriarch, with Master Dushun and Master Zhiyan named the First and Second Patriarch respectively.
Master Fazang began studying the Dharma under Huayan Master Zhiyan when he was 17 years old, and was fully ordained as a monk in Taiyuan Temple. Fazang once went to the imperial palace to expound the Avatamsaka Sutra to Empress Wu Zetian (reigned 684–705). So taken aback from this teaching, the empress bestowed the title Xianshou (Virtuous Leader) upon Fazang. He was later referred to as National Master Xianshou.
Fazang spent his life diligently teaching the Dharma and propagating the teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra. As a prolific writer, his written works include Treatise on the Golden Lion, Exploring the Mystery of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Summary of Objectives of the Avatamsaka Sutra, and Chapter on One-Vehicle Separate Teachings of Avatamsaka, among several hundred others works including sutra translations.
His extant work of calligraphy, Letter to Master Uisang, was delivered to his old classmate, Master Uisang of Silla (present day Korea). Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan has a statue of Fazang that is inferred to be either a copy from the Jin dynasty (1115–1234), or an original from the Korean Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) when the Avatamsaka teachings were flourishing. The statue is listed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.