【Master Tai Xu (1889―1947)】

Master Tai Xu (1889―1947) was from Chongde, Zhejiang Province, his family name was Zhang and first name Gansheng, and his dharma name Wei Xin. He was an advocator of Buddhist reform movements after the Republic of China was founded (1912). He devoted himself to eradication of accumulated disadvantages and reform of traditional Chinese Buddhism all his life. He exerted his utmost effort to fulfill his will, the Three Buddhist Principles (Buddhist sangha, Buddha character and Buddhist country). Although his effort ended in failure, it left a far-reaching influence. Master Tai Xu is an erudite scholar of Chinese Buddhism. He was adept at understanding and digesting thoughts of all the sects, and not confined to any school. He was versed in Dharma-laksana and Vijnanamatra-vada and urged Vijnanamatra-vada should be applied in real social life. His main works are On Genuine Reality and On the Reform of Buddhist Disciplines, etc.

In 1946, Master Tai Xu stayed in the Jade Buddha Monastery，taking it as a base of regulating Chinese Buddhist Societies and founded a society Jue Qun. He had Jue Qun Weekly published to disseminate his propositions of reforming Buddhism.

In 1947, Master Tai Xu died of grief in the Room of Zhizhi in the Jade Buddha Monastery after presiding over the cremation ritual of Master Zhen Hua.