Duche

CHINA, Yunnan, Kunming; Ming to Qing dynasty

A monk and artist, Master Duche had an original family name of Zhao and was also known as Cangxue. He was a native of Chenggong in Kunming, and was tonsured at a young age in Miaozhan Temple in Yunnan alongside his father, Bitan. He later served as an attendant to Master Shuiyue Ruquan at Jiguang Temple in Yunnan, handling clerical tasks and studying Buddhist scriptures in his free time. Master Duche began traveling at the age of 19 to visit and learn the Dharma from virtuous monks.
Master Duche eventually became the Dharma successor of Master Yiyu at Tieshan, and stayed at Zhongfeng Temple, where he dedicated himself to teaching the Dharma and propagating Buddhism. He authored several books on Buddhism including Essentials of the Lotus Sutra and 42 fascicles of the Liturgy for the Repentance Service of the Avatamsaka Sutra.
In addition to his vast knowledge in Buddhism, Duche was a skilled painter and poet. While living in Jiangsu, he often engaged in poetic discourse with Wu Meicun and Qian Qianyi. He is regarded as one of the most outstanding poet monks of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).