Zhang Tianran
| Zhang Tian Ran | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Known in English as: | Zhang Tian Ran |
| Chinese: | 張天然 |
| Family name: | Zhang |
| Chinese: | 張 |
| Birth name: | Kui Sheng 奎生 |
| Courtesy name : | Guang Bi 光璧 |
| Religious Name : | Tian Ran 天然 |
| Other name : | Kung Chang |
Zhang Tian Ran (張天然) (1889-1947) is the founder of I-Kuan Tao, a popular religious movement. He is usually referred to as the Father of I Kuan-Tao, or as Shi Zun 師尊, meaning the world honored one.
He was born under the name Kui Sheng, also known as Zhang Guang Bi. Zhang Tian Ran is his official religious name. He was also known as Kung Chang (Kung and Chang are the two readings of the character Zhang). Zhang was born on the 19th day of the 7th Lunar month in 1889, in the Jining prefecture, northern province Shandong. In 1908, Zhang married with a woman named Zhu, but Zhu died a year later. Two years later Zhang married again to a woman called Liu.
He left home and travelled to Nanjing and Shang Hai at age 24, joined the army as a low ranking military officer. Zhang was initiated in I-Kuan Tao in 1914. The 17th patriarch Lu Zhong Yi heard the talent of Zhang and invited Zhang to join in Jining. Patriarch Lu died in 1925, succeded by his sister Lu ZhongJie. In 1930 he was officially ordained to be the 18th Patriarch of I Kuan Tao.
There are various versions concerning the transfer of the 18th patriarch and the meeting of Zhang Tian Ran with Sun Su Zhen. The most simple version states that the Venerable mother transferred the 18th patriarchs to both Zhang and Sun. The most widely accepted version in Western literature states that Zhang took Sun Su Zhen as his second wife in 1930. She was already member of I-Kuan Tao and according to reports Zhang married her after a divine message. Zhang was considered as the incarnation of Ji Gong, a lecherous Buddhist monk who was revered as a god by Taoists and as an incarnation of an Arhat by some Buddhists. Sun was then considered as the reincarnation of Yue Hui (Bodhisattva of Moon Wisdom), Ji Gong's wife.
Zhang moved out of JiNing, and in 1931 travelled to Jinan the capital of Shandong, to spread the teaching. He founded the first temple (Fo Tang) Hall of Lofty Splendor (ChongHua Tang) and attracted many followers. These first followers later become Zhang's apostles. From Jinan it spread quickly throughout North China. Within a year, 4 more Fo Tang were established. In 1934, Zhang went to Tianjin established another Fo Tang and became the base of the propagation. In 1937 TianJin has more than 100 Fo Tang. From Tianjin Zhang's apostles propagated the teaching to various parts of China: ShangHai, Harbin.
Under the Japanese occupation, I-Kuan Tao survived and spread rapidly, centered in Central China. The cult with apocalyptic belief and strong mystic element has attracted many peasants. The political chaotic, fear and panic situation in this period helped I Kuan Tao grow more rapidly. The apocalyptic teaching promised that by following I Kuan Tao one will be spared and salvaged from calamity, with Zhang portrayed as Ji Gong the god of salvation.By 1940 I Kuan Tao has reached southern province Jiangxi. I Kuan Tao also attracted a number of officials of the Japanese puppet government of Wang Jingwei. During 1950, it was estimated in Beijing there are 178,000 followers, and in TianJin 140,000.
Zhang died on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month in 1947 in the city of Cheng Du in Sichuan province. He was burried in Hangzhou
See Also
Links
References
- Thomas DuBois. 2001. The Sacred World of Cang County: Religious Belief, Organization and Practice in Rural North China During the Late Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles.
- David Jordan & Daniel Overmyer. 1985. The Flying Phoenix: Aspects of Chinese Sectarianism in Taiwan. Princeton University Press. ISBN 069107304X
- Soo Khin Wah. 1997. A Study of the Yiguan Dao (Unity Sect) and its Development in Peninsular Malaysia. Ph.D. dissertation, University of British Columbia.
- Jo Swinnen. 2003. Yiguan Dao: Aspecten van een Moderne Chinese Religie. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m9510469/thesis.doc