Guangyuan

CHINA, Anhui, Fuyang

Born in Taihe county of Fuyang, Guangyuan is a monk, calligrapher, and painter whose original name was Song Yuanru and Dharma names are Zhuyun and Yichan. His father, Song Ruiyu, was also a well-known calligrapher. At the age of 20, Guangyuan became acclaimed in his hometown for his exceptional calligraphic work. In 1952, three years after coming to Taiwan, he renounced under monk Luhang at Maitreya Inner Hall in Xizhi, Taipei. Among other positions, he currently serves as the director of the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China.
Guangyuan is skilled in depicting plums, bamboo, and flowers, and exhibits his work at numerous calligraphy and painting exhibitions around Taiwan as well as overseas. He has authored books such as Introduction to the Dharmagupta-Vinaya Bhiksu Precepts and Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy.
His calligraphic work, Chapter on the Perfect Understanding of Subhuti from the Surangama Sutra, is carved onto the Stele Wall at Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His other pieces, Excerpt of the Sutra in Forty-Two Sections and Seven-Character Couplet, are held at the Hwa Kang Museum in Taipei.