World Cultural Landscape Heritage: Mount Wutai (8)

Cheng Guan (738 to 839) was from Yuezhou's Shanyin (Shaoxing of Zhejiang Province), and his family name was Xiahou and his first name was Daxiu before he became a monk. He became a monk in the Baolin Temple of Yingtian when he was 11 years old and received the tonsure ceremony when he was 14 years old. He made an oath to travel around Mount Wutai and visit all temples there when he was 39 years old. He stayed at the Great Huayan Temple to study and teach the Hua-yen Sutra for five years after visiting all famous temples of Mount Wutai. Afterwards, Cheng thought that the old comments of the Hua-yen Sutra were too complex. Therefore, he planned to make new comments for the Hua-yen Sutra. Cheng put himself in the Zhishu Pavilion of the Great Huayan Temple and began to make new comments for the Hua-yen Sutra on April, 8, 784, the first year of the Xingyuan under the reign of Tang Dezong. On Nov. 5, 787, the third year of Zhenyuan under the reign of Tang Dezong, the 60-volume "Dafangguangfo Comments of the Hua-yen Sutra" was eventually completed. Tang Daizong even saluted Cheng as a teacher during his reign, and Tang Dezong also called him a "Professor Monk" and gave him the title of "State Master Monk" as well as listed him in the list of Buddhist masters. Tang Xianzong even gave him a golden seal to allow him to command all monks in the country and be responsible for Buddhist affairs. Both Tang Muzong and Tang Jingzong respected Cheng and gave him the title of "Dazhao State Master Monk." In the fifth year of Taihe under the reign of Tang Wenzong, the Emperor received Xinjie from Cheng, and in the first year of Kaicheng, the Emperor bestowed Cheng crops, wealth and food for Cheng's 100-year-old birthday and conferred him as the "Datong State Master Monk." Government officials also respected him and saluted Cheng with eight commandments of etiquette.

Cheng served under nine emperors and was considered as a teacher by seven emperors. He died at the age of 102 in 839, the fourth year of Kaicheng under the reign of Tang Wenzong, and when Cheng was died, Tang Wenzong did not even go to court for three days. He also ordered government officials to dress in white mourning dresses and held a solemn funeral for Cheng. Cheng was regarded as the "Fourth Progenitor of the Hua-yen School." Mount Wutai cultivated a large number of famous monks and this is also an important mark on the formation of the Buddhist Holy Land Mount Wutai.