11.13.2017

Shaolin Abbot Succession List

Dynasty Name Term Notes
(北魏朝) 386-535
Bátuó
跋陀
495-520

Sēngchóu
僧稠
520-560

Northern Zhōu Dynasty
(北周朝) 557–581


574-580
577 - Shaolin Temple destroyed and closed.
580 - Shaolin Temple opened and reconstructed.
Zīyún
资云
580?-?

Suí Dynasty 
(隋朝) 581-618


610
610 - Shaolin monks protect local area from bandits.
618
618 - Shaolin Temple destroyed by bandits.
(唐朝) 618-907




Zhìcāo
志操
621?-622
621 - Thirteen Shaolin monks help Lǐ Shìmín.


622-624
622 - Shaolin Temple closed by Táng officials.
624 - Shaolin Temple opened and reconstructed.
Zhìcāo

624-?

Yìjiǎng
义奖
?-700-?

Huìjué
慧觉
?-723-?

Wéijì
惟济
?-770-?

Língcòu
灵凑
?-791-?



842-846
845 - Shaolin Temple destroyed and closed.
846 - Shaolin Temple opened and reconstructed.
(五代十国) 907-960
Xíngjūn
行钧
880-925

Hóngtài
宏泰
925-954?

Later Zhōu Dynasty
(后周) 951-960


954-959
954 - Shaolin Temple closed.
959 - Shaolin Temple opened.
(宋朝) 960-1279
Zhìhào
智浩
?-1056

Zhèngwù Xiūyóng
证悟脩颙
1056-1060

Guǎngqìng
广庆
1084-1087

Bào'ēn
报恩
?-1093-?

Qīngjiāng
清江
1101-1105

Zhìtōng
智通
?-1111?

Jīn Dynasty
(金朝) 1115–1234
Fúdēng Huìchū
佛灯惠初
1111-1126

Shànyīng Fǎhé
善应法和
1140-1141

Zǔduān
祖端
1145-1160

Fǎhǎi
法海
1161-?

Wùjiàn
悟鉴
?-1179-?

Pǔzhào
普照
1190-1194

Xìngchóng
兴崇
1204-1208

Xūmíng
虚明
1208-1212

Xīxī Hóngxiāng
西溪宏相
1212-1217?

Dōnglín Zhìlóng
东林志隆
1217-1223

Guǎngzhù
广铸
1224-1224

Mùān Xìngyīng
木庵性英
1225-1233

Rǔfēng Dérén
乳峰德仁
1239?-1248

Xuětíng Fúyù
雪庭福裕
1249-1255
Fùān Yuánzhào
复庵园照
?-1260-?

Zúān Huìsù
足庵慧肃
?-1268-?

Yuánmíng
圆明
?-1270-?

(元朝) 1271–1368










Língyǐn Wéntài
灵隐文泰
1273-1282?

Zhōnglín Zhìtài
中林智泰
1282-1290

Yuèyán Yǒngdá
月岩永达
1291-1294

Huányuán Fúyù
还原福遇
1295-1299

Yuèyán Yǒngdá
月岩永达
1300-1306

Gǔyán Pǔjiù
古岩普就
1313-1317

Yuèzhào Jiānggōng
月照江公
?-1320-?

Júān Fǎzhào
菊庵法照
1322-1323

Chúnzhuō Wéncái
淳拙文才
1324-1329

Fènglín Ziguī
凤林子珪
1332-1335

Xīān Yìràng
息庵义让
1336-1340

Sǔnān Hóngyì
损庵洪益
1340

Wúwéi Fǎróng
无为法容
1341-1343

Chúnzhuō Wéncái
淳拙文才
1345-1352

Hǎiyìn
海印
?-1354-?
1356 - Shaolin Temple destroyed.
Sōngxī Zidìng
嵩溪子定
1360-1363

Míng Dynasty
(
明朝) 1368-1644























Sōngxī Zidìng
嵩溪子定
1368-1369

Sōngtíng Ziyán
松庭子严
1369-1382

Níngrán Zigǎi
凝然子改
1390-1392

Rénshān Yìgōng
仁山毅公
1393-1405

Zhúān Zirěn
竹庵子忍
?-1422-?

Jùkōng Qìbīn
俱空契斌
1449-1452

Wúfāng Kěcóng
无方可从
1474-1483

Guīyuán Kěshùn
归源可顺
1498-1499

Zhuōān Xìngchéng
拙庵性成
1483-1487

Gǔshān Kěxiān
古山可仙
1488-1496

Jìngān Wùtà
静庵悟榻
1497-1501?

Gǔméi Zǔtíng
古梅祖庭
1501-1505

Yuèzhōu Wénzài
月舟文载
1510-1522

Zōnglín Yùtáng
宗琳玉堂
1537-1538

Zhúdōng Wùwàn
竺东悟万
1552-1557
1553-1555 Expeditions against pirates (Wōkòu 倭寇).
Xiǎoshān Zōngshū
小山宗书
1557-1566

Yǐnshān Xiángōng
隐山贤公
1566? -1574

Huànxiū Chángrùn
幻休常润
1574-1579

Wúyán Zhèngdào
无言正道
1592-1609

Ruìguāng
瑞光
?-1622-?

Hánhuī Huìxǐ
寒灰慧喜
1624

Bǐàn Hǎikuān
彼岸海宽
1639-1646
Honorary
Qīng Dynasty
(
清朝) 1644-1912





Bǐàn Hǎikuān
彼岸海宽
1646-1661
Official
Chúnbái Yǒngyù
纯白永玉
1661-?
Honorary
Xīnyún Qīngníng
心云清宁
1742-1750?
Honorary
Yuánjīn Língshān
圆今灵山
Dates Unclear
Honorary
Xíngyuàn Zhìwú
行愿智吾
Dates Unclear
Honorary
Qīngtài Yǐngshí
清泰颖石
Dates Unclear
Honorary
Republic of China
(
中華民國)
1912-1949

Hénglín
恒林
1908-1923
Honorary
Miàoxìng
妙兴
1923-1927
Honorary
Chúnpú
淳朴
1927-1929
Honorary
1928 - Shaolin Temple destroyed.
Zhēnxù
贞绪
1929-1949
Honorary
People's Republic of China
(
中华人民共和国)
1949-
Xíngzhèng
行正
1949-1986
Honorary
Xíngzhèng
行正
1986-1986
Official
Déchán
德禅
1986-1993
Honorary
Sùxǐ
素喜
1993-1998
Honorary
Sùyún
素云
1998-1999
Honorary
Yǒngxìn
永信
1999-
Official

Shaolin Temple Democratic Management Committee
After 1950, the State Bureau of Cultural Relics (SBCR) was established to protect relics, archaeological sites, and assist in the development of museums. However, it languished during the political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution. SBCR's mandate was revitalized with the establishment of the State Cultural Relics Enterprises Management Bureau in 1973. As the Cultural Revolution ended, management authority of the Shaolin Monastery fell under the jurisdiction of a tiny department known as the Cultural Relics Preservation Institute (Wénwù Bǎoguǎn Suǒ 文物保管所), a neglected division of Dēngfēng (登封) Cultural Heritage Bureau.

The number of tourists visiting Shaolin Monastery each year, and the revenue they generated, was relatively minuscule from 1975 to 1982. The temple remained in a rather sad state of disrepair. Then in 1982, Wǔshù (武术) champion Jet Li appeared in the film "Shaolin Temple", which was filmed on location at the monastery. That film made Jet Li an international star and made Shaolin an instantly recognizable name worldwide.

Suddenly, multitudes of people were making the pilgrimage to Shaolin, from both China and abroad. The rapid increase in revenue created by the activity did not go unnoticed by government officials. As a matter of face, and financial gain, government bureaucrats deemed it wise to assist in promoting the continued growth and prosperity of Shaolin Monastery. Management authority for the temple was returned, from Cultural Relics Preservation Institute, to the monks of Shaolin Monastery on April 1, 1984.

By this time, the Shaolin Temple Democratic Management Committee (Shàolín Sì Mínzhǔ Guǎnlǐ Wěiyuánhuì 少林寺民主管理委员会) had been established. This committee included Venerable Masters Shì Sùxǐ (释素喜) and Shì Sùyún (释素云), two elderly and highly respected monks. They were among fourteen monks who returned to the temple, following the Cultural Revolution, with the intent of restoring Shaolin tradition. Sùxǐ and Sùyún entered Shaolin Monastery in the early 1900’s and studied with monks who's masters predated the 1900's, namely Shì Zhēnxù (释贞绪).

Venerable Shì Xíngzhèng (释行正) was officially inaugurated as abbot in October 1986. December 13, government appointed construction crews began major renovations of the Shaolin Temple. Subsequently, Xíngzhèng (释行正), retired from his position and appointed Shì Déchán (释德禅) honorary abbot. Xíngzhèng passed away on August 27, 1987, and was interred at Tǎlín (塔林).

Venerable Master Shì Déchán (释德禅), like Xíngzhèng, was an elderly and highly respected monk. He served as abbot from 1986 to 1993. Shì Déchán passed away in March 1993.

Following Shì Déchán, Venerable Master Shì Sùxǐ served as abbot and as director of the management committee in 1993. Dharma Masters Yìnsōng (印松) and Yǒnggān (永乾) served as deputy directors. Unfortunately, Sùxǐ was contending with the ravages of Parkinson's Disease. Aside from health concerns, it was never his wish to be more than a common monk. Administrative duties and leadership positions were not for him. Sùxǐ retired from these positions in 1998. Sùxǐ passed away on February 9, 2006.

Following Sùxǐ, Venerable Master Shì Sùyún served as abbot in 1998. However, he was older than Sùxǐ and was also falling ill. His tenure did not last long. Sùyún passed away in 1999.

Another member of the Shaolin Temple Democratic Management Committee was much younger. Shì Yǒngxìn (释永信) possessed the necessary qualifications, youth, and knowledge. A decree was issued by the Buddhist Association of China (Zhōngguó Fójiào Xiéhuì 中国佛教协会) in Běijīng (北京). Yǒngxìn would become the new director. In 1999, Yǒngxìn became director of the management committee and was officially inaugurated as abbot.

Honorary versus Official
Prior to Xíngzhèng, Shaolin Monastery lacked an official abbot for over three centuries. Before that, Venerable Shi Bǐàn Hǎikuān (彼岸海宽) was the last official abbot of Shaolin Temple. Hǎikuān was appointed in 1639. However due to an issue with a foot malady, Hǎikuān was not officially inaugurated until 1646.

In 1661, Hǎikuān passed the abbacy to his student, Chúnbái Yǒngyù (纯白永玉). However, Yǒngyù was never officially inaugurated. Hǎikuān passed away in 1666 and was interred at Tǎlín (塔林). Hǎikuān's pagoda still stands in Tǎlín, the last one before Xíngzhèng. Perhaps for political reasons, no other Shaolin Temple abbot was officially inaugurated under the Qīng Dynasty or the Republic of China. There have been a quite a few honorary "acting" abbots since Hǎikuān, but only Xíngzhèng and Yǒngxìn (永信) were official.

So what's the distinction between honorary and official? To the best of our knowledge, not much of significance. The essential difference is whether or not the person's name was entered into the official records as abbot. Additionally, an Abbotship Inauguration Ceremony is typically held for an official abbot. Other than these details, there doesn't seem to be much difference.

Traditionally, each abbot would appoint his own successor. Failing to do so, before retirement or death, would result in someone having to serve as an acting or honorary abbot until a candidate could be officially selected to fill the office. Although, depending on the era, appointment of an abbot may have been subject to government approval. Of course at times, abbots were certainly appointed by imperial edict without regard to the wishes of monks or the previous abbot.

Far as we're concerned, whoever performs the duties of the office deserves the respect, honor, and recognition associated with the title. Following that logic, every person who does the job should be recognized as an official abbot.

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