He purportedly possessed supernatural powers through Buddhist practice, which he used to help the poor and stand up to injustice.

However, he was also known for his wild and eccentric behavior and didn't follow Buddhist monastic rules by consuming alcohol and meat.

He was mentored by the Vinaya master Huiyuan and was given the monastic name Dàojì (道濟, which could be interpreted as "Helper on the Way").

Many who noticed his eccentric yet benevolent and compassionate nature began to think that he was the emanation of a bodhisattva, or the incarnation of an arhat.

Later he became known as Jìgōng (济公, "the Honorable Helper"), a title of respect derived from his monastic name, Dàojì (道济).

Toward the end of his life, he stayed at Jingci Temple, and passed away on the 14th day of the 5th lunar month (May 16th, 1209), around the age of 79 (or 61 according to other chronicles).

Since at least the 1869s, mediums in China have claimed to receive texts from Jìgōng through spirit writing, later called Fuji (扶乩/扶箕 fújī).