8. Seng-chi
[OMITTED]
The nun Seng-chi (Foundation of the Sangha) (ca. 330-397) of
Increasing Joy Convent[65]
Seng-chi's secular surname was Ming, and her family was originally
from Chi-nan [in northeast China].[66]
When Seng-chi was still very young, she had already fixed her mind
on the way of Buddhism, holding fast to her wish to leave the household
life and become a nun. Her mother, however, would not hear of
it and secretly betrothed her, hiding the engagement gifts. Thus the
daughter knew nothing about it until the wedding day drew close [but
as soon as she found out] she immediately refused to eat or drink a
thing. Even though all her relatives tried to get her to change her
mind, she would not be moved.
After Seng-chi had fasted seven days her mother summoned the
bridegroom, a man of devout faith, who, when he saw that his bride
was in danger of death, said to his prospective mother-in-law, "Each
person has his own will that cannot be forced." The mother then
acceded [to her daughter's wishes], and consequently Seng-chi left the
household life. At that time she was twenty-one years old. Relatives
from both sides of the family came to express their best wishes, and
they vied with one another to give fine banquets and other precious
gifts in honor of her becoming a nun. The provincial magistrate presented
gifts, and the commandery administrator attended in person.
Monastics and householders alike marveled [that this degree of honor
given her] was most unusual.
Seng-chi kept the monastic rules in great purity, and she diligently
studied the scriptures. When compared to the nun T'an-pei
(no. 6), her reputation was nearly equal. Her mental faculties were
most concentrated, and she was good at deliberation and decision
making.
The Emperor K'ang (322-343-344) often paid respects to her,[67]
and, in the second year of the chien-yüan reign period (344), the
Empress Ch'u (324-384), consort of K'ang, built for her a convent
named Increasing Joy in T'ung-kung Lane in Chien-k'ang, the capital
of Chin.[68] Seng-chi took up residence there, and more than a hundred
disciples came to her.
Because in her management of all affairs she was clear and intelligent,
both monastics and householders respected her more and more.
She was at least sixty-eight years old when she died in the first year of
the lung-an reign period (397).[69]
[65]
Sangha: Seng is the first syllable of the Chinese transliteration, Seng-chia
(in ancient times Seng-ka), for the Sanskrit Sangha, which means the
assemblies of monks and nuns. The character seng may also mean the individual
Buddhist cleric as well as the assembly as a whole.
[66]
Chi-nan, in the western part of Shantung Province, Li-ch'ang County.
See map.
[67]
Emperor K'ang (Chin shu, chap. 7; Wei shu, chap. 96).
[68]
Empress Ch'u (324-384) (Chin shu, chap. 32).
[69]
She was probably older. If she were only sixty-eight when she died, then
she would have been fourteen years old when the consort built the convent for
her, and this is not likely because the biography states specifically that she was
already twenty-one when she became a nun.
