Explanation of the "Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha" Buddha Name#
On April 3, 2008, the book "The Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha" published by the Global Buddhist Publishing House and the World Dharma Sound Publishing House held a solemn and grand launch ceremony at the Library of Congress in the United States. The Library of Congress officially collected this book, and it was then that people learned that the highly respected Master Yiyun Gao and the Great Dharma King Yangyi Yixi Nobu, who had always been respected by everyone, were recognized by the leaders or regents of the major Buddhist sects and the living Buddhas of the world's major Buddhist sects. The third generation of Dorje Chang Buddha, the Buddha name is the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha. Since then, people have referred to him as "Namo Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha." This is similar to before Shakyamuni Buddha became a Buddha, his name was Prince Siddhartha, but after Shakyamuni Buddha became a Buddha, he was called "Namo Shakyamuni Buddha." Therefore, we now say "Namo Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha." Especially on December 12, 2012, the United States Senate Resolution No. 614 officially named the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha as His Holiness (H.H. Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha). Since then, the position of Namo Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha has been officially established. Moreover, the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha is also the legal name recognized by the government. The previous names "Yiyun Gao" and the honorable titles of Master and Great Dharma King no longer exist. However, this news was published before the official announcement of the Buddha name of the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha. At that time, people did not yet know the true identity of the Buddha. Therefore, in order to respect the truth of history, we still retain the names used before the official recognition of the Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha in the news. But everyone should be clear that, except for the name of H.H. Third Generation Dorje Chang Buddha, which is legal, the names used before the official recognition no longer exist.
Jinmen Evening News
Republic of China, December 5, 2000, Tuesday
Page 3 Jinmen News
Chinese Painting Can No Longer Be Self-Abased#
In Shanghai in the 1930s and 1940s, foreigners once equated Chinese people with dogs. However, it is unimaginable that today, after six or seven decades, the entire Chinese nation has won the respect of the world with its wisdom and diligence in politics, economy, science, culture, and art, some of us Chinese still belittle ourselves and are happy to be a clan that is compared to dogs.
For example, in terms of painting and calligraphy, Chinese painting and calligraphy, with its inherent techniques and the historical and cultural traditions it embodies, has become a treasure in the world of painting. However, the prices of Western paintings far exceed those of Chinese paintings by tens or even thousands of times. This is extremely unfair and abnormal. However, some Chinese people with a self-abasing mentality, like dogs, consider this unreasonable reality as a matter of course. In their hearts, Chinese people are the sick men of East Asia, as lowly as dogs. Chinese art will always be inferior to Western art, and Chinese painting should never surpass Western painting. Therefore, once the prices of Chinese paintings go up, these people with no national dignity, with a lowly dog-like nature, spare no effort to slander and defame, or find unrelated reasons to discredit the normal prices, vigorously demonstrating their slave mentality.
Take, for example, the "Great Strength King" by Master Yiyun Gao recently auctioned by Zhen Cang Art Auction Co., Ltd. The work was sold for 72 million New Taiwan dollars. This was a normal auction and something that the Chinese nation should be proud of. However, some naturally servile Chinese people were unhappy. In their eyes, if the price of Chinese painting is the same as that of Western painting, it is abnormal. They then complain on behalf of their Western masters. They label this legitimate transaction, which has paid millions of dollars in taxes, as a "fake transaction" and further claim that "this is religious art," so the price is high. Some even compare it with the Western-style Chinese painting by a foreigner named Lang Shining, thinking that only Western-style Chinese painting can reach such a high price, and how can Chinese-style Chinese painting be priced so high? Seeing such slave-like behavior, it is truly pitiful and pathetic. Purely in terms of painting, Chinese painting is not inferior to Western painting. On the contrary, due to its 5,000 years of history and culture, Chinese painting is more expressive and profound than Western painting. Therefore, the value of Chinese painting in terms of collection is higher than that of Western painting. It is only because of the faster economic development of the West in modern times that the current prices of Chinese and Western paintings have been greatly distorted, which is extremely unreasonable. Now, it is not easy to have a master like Yiyun Gao, who has established the position of Chinese painting in the world of painting with his artistic talent. However, he is met with some clowns and traitors who are shocked and surprised: How can Chinese painting qualify to surpass Western painting? Just think about it: Why can't Chinese painting surpass Western painting?
As we all know, art provides aesthetic enjoyment, while religion teaches people to think, experience, and attain liberation. Art and religion are two completely different things. Even if we assume the existence of so-called religious art, it would be Zhang Daqian's Dunhuang Buddhist statues and flying figures, Master Hongyi's calligraphy and painting, and Tibetan thangkas. Why haven't these religious artworks reached high values? Which one of these works has been sold for millions of dollars? Yes, Master Yiyun Gao is not only a master of art but also a great master of Buddhism today. However, Buddhism cannot represent art. For example, the calligraphy of Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama, the Pope of the Vatican, Master Hongyi, and Master Taixu, which one of their works of art has been sold for high prices? And the works of those painters who specialize in painting Buddha and Bodhisattva images can be bought for only a few hundred or a few thousand New Taiwan dollars. So, which one of these religious works has entered the international art world? Moreover, religious art and the art of Master Yiyun Gao have nothing to do with each other. Master Yiyun Gao's calligraphy and painting are the essence of Chinese calligraphy and painting. He is a master who combines multiple schools and techniques and integrates his own style. His moral articles have reached the pinnacle. If you read the "Master Yiyun Gao's Painting Collection" and his other various works, you will understand at a glance.
As early as 1986, Master Yiyun Gao served as the president of the Chinese Education and Research Association for National Painting. At that time, other leaders of the association, such as honorary president, consultants, and vice presidents, included Xie Zhiliu, Zhou Yingnan, Wu Zhangshu, Qian Juntang, Liang Shuming, Wan Laiming, and Zang Kejia, etc., all of whom were art masters. This shows the high status of Master Yiyun Gao in the field of calligraphy and painting. Not only that, the achievements that the master himself has achieved are unprecedented by previous calligraphy and painting masters:
First, there is no painter in the world who has achieved the unique title of Special International Master (head of state-level honor) recognized by 5,612 experts and scholars from 48 countries and regions. The certificate was signed by the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee, Samaranch. He is the only one who has achieved this.
Second, there is no painter in the world who has achieved the proclamation of Master Day by the California State Government and the San Francisco City Government on the same day on March 8, 2000. He is the only one who has achieved this.
Third, no Chinese painter has ever had a large-scale art museum consisting of seven halls and one section built by the government for him while he is still alive. The Yiyun Gao Master Museum displays his works. He is the only one who has achieved this.
Fourth, there is no painter in the world who has been elected as the authentic Buddhist Exoteric and Esoteric Master by 2,137 high-ranking monks and eminent monks from 416 associations and temples in various countries. The voting rate was 99.6%. He is the only one who has achieved this.
Fifth, there is no painter in the world whose works have been guaranteed by the World Buddhist Association as genuine and fine works. According to the law: when genuine fine works are auctioned, the World Buddhist Association stamps them and the chairman signs them on the original, guaranteeing their quality. He is the only one who has achieved this.
Sixth, in the world, Master Yiyun Gao has received honorary doctorates and professorships from 92 universities, including four universities that have awarded him the title of professor. He is also the only one who has achieved this.
Just think about it, if Master Yiyun Gao were not a truly unprecedented moral and artistic master, how could the Chinese government have built an art museum named after him? This is also the only master museum built by the Chinese government for a living person in thousands of years. In the seven halls and one section of the museum, various halls display the different techniques and styles of the master's calligraphy and painting. The sixth hall showcases the master's philosophy and literature achievements, and the seventh hall displays praises from various countries. In the entire master museum, there are moral articles, calligraphy, and painting, but no religious atmosphere. How can this be slandered as religious art? Moreover, if we compare Master Yiyun Gao with any painter in the world, which painter has a wide range of painting techniques and genres like Master Yiyun Gao? Which painter has achieved comprehensive achievements like Master Yiyun Gao? Which painter has a higher status than Master Yiyun Gao? Can those with lowly dog-like nature find a painting collection to compare? It is precisely because of the master's unparalleled moral character and comprehensive achievements that the value of his paintings is extremely high. If we consider the actual value, even if this painting auctioned by Zhen Cang Company is sold for 20 million US dollars, it is still too low because it has not reached the high price of Western painting. Don't we Chinese have any status or value at all?