University of Virginia Library

57. Ching-hsien

[OMITTED]

The nun Ching-hsien (Pure Virtue) (431-505) of Eastern Green
Garden Convent

Ching-hsien, whose secular surname was Hung, was originally from
Yung-shih [to the southeast of the capital].[56] She lived in the capital in
Eastern Green Garden Convent. Capable and talented, she liked to
practice meditation; well read in both the scriptures and the books of
monastic precepts, her words were certainly elegant and seemly.
Although she did not give lectures on these texts, she had thoroughly
examined their essential teachings.

Emperor Wen (407-424-453) of the Sung dynasty held her in
esteem.[57] When the prince of Hsiang-tung [eleventh son of Emperor
Wen] was a young child, he often had nightmares.[58] After the emperor
ordered him to take the Three Refuges [in the Buddha, in his teaching,
and in the monastic assemblies] from the nun Ching-hsien, the prince's
disturbed sleep was cured. The emperor thus esteemed her all the
more and generously honored her with gifts, and everyone both within
and without the palace personally rewarded her.

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When the prince ascended the throne as Emperor Ming (439-465472),
he treated her with even greater courtesy and presented gifts in
even greater abundance. Religious feasts and meetings for talks on the
scriptures were held one after another, and all the famous scholars of
that time honored and respected her.

Later she was in charge of the convent for more than ten years. She
died in the fourth year of the t'ien-chien reign period (505) of Liang at
the age of seventy-five.

There were also the nuns Hui-kao and Pao-yung, who were both
famous. Hui-kao practiced meditation and chanted the scriptures in
addition to diligently managing the affairs of the Assembly of Nuns.
Pao-yung expounded on the Flower of the Law Scripture and was
adept in the practice of contemplation.[59]