Shi Yinguang

Yinguang lived during the rapid societal changes of the Republic of China, and is credited as a leader in the modern Buddhist revival movement.

Yinguang promoted traditional Pure Land practices, such as reciting the nianfo, in a way that resonated with modern society.

[1] In 1881, Yinguang first ordained as a novice monk on Mount Zhongnan, at Lotus Flower Cave Temple (simplified Chinese: 莲花洞寺; traditional Chinese: 蓮花洞寺; pinyin: Lian Hua Dong Si), but was dragged back home by his older brother on a pretense that their mother was ill.[2] Yinguang later ran away from home and returned to Lotus Flower Cave Temple for good.

From here, he undertook the collection of funds to print and redistribute Buddhist texts on Pure Land teachings to a wider audience.

Such efforts continued until 1937 during the breakout of the Second Sino-Japanese War, where Yinguang relocated to Lingyun Temple (Chinese: 凌雲山; pinyin: Ling Yun Shan) which would be his last residence.