Xiànmíng 現明 (1880-1941)
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Notable Associates:
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Xiànmíng 現明 (1880-1941) restored Guǎngjì Temple 廣濟寺 in the early 1920s.
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Xiànmíng received a traditional education growing up. In 1902 he took tonsure under the abbot of Mt. Báiyún 白雲山 in Qíyáng 祁陽. During the winter of the following year he received the full precepts under Vinaya Master Huáyá 華崕 at Xīchán Temple 西禪寺 in Héngyáng 衡陽. He then returned to Mt. Báiyún and began studying the scriptures under Míngguǒ 明果.
In 1909 Dàojiē 道階 came back to Héngyáng from Běijīng 北京 to transmit the the precepts, and Xiànmíng helped him with the process. He began studying with Dàojiē, and followed him to the capitol in 1913, when the latter was appointed abbot of Fa3yuan2 Temple 法源寺. Dàojiē made him superintendent 監院 of the monastery, meanwhile, Xiànmíng continued his studies.
In 1916, the various Buddhist elders of Běijīng selected Xiànmíng to be abbot of Guǎngjì Temple 廣濟寺. Reconstruction began in 1918 and was completed in 1924. The year in which reconstruction was complete, Xiànmíng and Dàojiē established at the temple Běijīng's first modern Buddhist seminary 佛學院, called the Hóngcí Buddhist Seminary 弘慈佛學院. And in 1927, Xiànmíng opened an elementary school at the temple. Xiànmíng transmitted the dharma to Xiǎnzōng 顯宗 in 1928 and retired from the abbotship in order to practice in seclusion.
After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Xiànmíng did charity work in north China, bringing food, clothing, and medicine to people in need. He became ill in 1941, and returned to Guǎngjì Temple to convalesce. He died there that same year.