In 1905 Li went to Japan to study at Tokyo School of Fine Art in Ueno Park where he specialized in Western painting and music, and met a lover by the name of Yukiko who was to become his concubine.

During these later years, Li's reputation grew, as he became the first Chinese educator to use nude models in his painting classes, not to mention as the first teacher of Western music in China.

Some of the students, like Singapore artist Chen Wen Hsi (陳文希) whom he personally groomed, went on to become accomplished masters of the arts in their later days.

After spending another year in spiritual retreat, Li chose to be ordained as a monk, and thus began a holistic life dedicated to propagating Buddhism and its code of conduct.

Beijing-based progressive-metal rock band the Tang Dynasty recorded a rock-version of Master Hong Yi's famous romantic ballad, the Farewell song in their second album Epic.