Explanation of the Title "Third Dzogchen Rinpoche"#
On April 3, 2008, the book "Third Dzogchen Rinpoche" 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, also known as Yang'e Yixi Nuo Bu Dafawang, has been recognized by the leaders or regents of major Buddhist sects around the world as the third incarnation of the primordial Buddha Dzogchen Rinpoche. His Buddhist title is the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche. Since then, people have been calling him "Namo Third Dzogchen Rinpoche". This is similar to how before Gautama Buddha became enlightened, his name was Siddhartha Gautama, but after Gautama Buddha became enlightened, he was called "Namo Gautama Buddha". Therefore, we now call him "Namo Third Dzogchen Rinpoche". Especially on December 12, 2012, the United States Senate Resolution No. 614 officially named the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche as His Holiness (H.H. Third Dzogchen Rinpoche). Since then, the title of Namo Third Dzogchen Rinpoche has been officially established. Moreover, the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche is also the legal name recognized by the government, and the previous titles of "Yiyun Gao" and the honorable titles of Master and Supreme Dharma King no longer exist. However, this news was published before the official announcement of the Buddhist title of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, and 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 title of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche in the news. But everyone should be clear that except for the name of H.H. Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, which is legal, the previous names no longer exist.
Yiyun Gao's Artwork Sets Record Prices, Gaining Fame and Criticism#
Interview on December 6, 2000
Yiyun Gao, the master who created the highest price in contemporary Chinese painting with the painting "Great Power King", said in a telephone interview with a reporter, "I am an ordinary person with no publicity qualifications. I don't sell paintings. If someone sells the things I give them, it's their choice." He does not comment on the praise or criticism from the outside world.
Yiyun Gao, who combines the roles of Buddhist master, art master, philosophy master, scientist, singer, writer, and moralist, gained fame in the international art world with his painting "Wei Zhen", which was sold for 64 million Taiwanese dollars, shocking the world. His another painting "Great Power King" was sold for 72 million Taiwanese dollars by British art dealer Mr. Nailer on November 26, once again creating a huge wave and breaking the record for the highest price ever achieved by a living painter in an auction.
This outstanding Chinese artist has profound insights. Yiyun Gao, who excels in both ink painting and oil painting, believes that besides technique, the most important aspect of a painting is its style and artistic conception. Ink painting has an advantage in expressing artistic conception compared to oil painting. The expression of artistic conception and the reflection of style reflect the literary and philosophical cultivation and realm of the painter. Therefore, the best painters are inevitably literary and philosophical masters, not just skilled craftsmen. Therefore, the artistic value of Chinese painting and Western painting should not be ranked based on categories.
Zhou Yingnan, an advisor to the Chinese Academy of Traditional Painting, pointed out in the preface of the "Yiyun Gao Master's Painting Collection", which is now out of print, that Yiyun Gao can use dozens of different techniques in landscape, figure, animals, flowers and birds, fish and insects, regardless of meticulous brushwork, freehand brushwork, or splashing ink. He is proficient in all of them and has real traditional skills and innovations. Yiyun Gao is knowledgeable, accomplished, and has written extensively. He is one of the most famous scholars in modern world history. Although his reputation has spread all over the world, his humility, integrity, and moral character are even harder to find. He has long been recognized by experts from world academic institutions.
The author of the book "Yiyun Gao Master", Zhuang Zi Gong, said in the book, "Yiyun Gao Master's brilliant achievements in painting and calligraphy are rooted in the master's unremitting efforts to study the philosophy of life and the universe, and his profound literary foundation." Professor Gu Ruizhao, who teaches comparative art courses at Zhongyuan University and the National Defense Medical College, pointed out that only by improving our literary and philosophical foundation can we deeply understand the connotation and subtlety of Yiyun Gao's paintings. Yiyun Gao's paintings are meant for deep contemplation, not just for viewing. To appreciate his paintings, one must not only have a broad knowledge, but also spend more effort to truly benefit from them.
How does Yiyun Gao himself pursue the realm of painting? "The so-called state of selflessness is when a person integrates their experiences, knowledge, and skills to a certain extent, and naturally achieves the state of a saint. It is a higher goal that artists pursue after achieving a certain level of accomplishment, aiming to achieve the unity of the inner world and nature." Zhuang Zi Gong, who has a deep understanding of Yiyun Gao, has always believed that Yiyun Gao's paintings "store techniques and messages".
Yiyun Gao does not comment on this view. He only says that his works are simply "using ink, pigments, and brushes to express the truths and artistic charm derived from life and nature." Gu Ruizhao's statement is exactly the "techniques and messages" stored in Yiyun Gao's paintings. He pointed out that if you can understand the "truths" of life and nature and feel the "artistic charm" contained in them, then you have already absorbed the so-called "techniques and messages" in Yiyun Gao's paintings. If you still cannot, please strengthen your literary, philosophical, ethical, Buddhist, and Buddhist studies and strive for improvement.
Venerable Jueyu, the Minister of the Five Ming Art Department of the World Buddhist Association, said that Yiyun Gao's paintings can vary in marvelous techniques, and this achievement is entirely due to the cultivation and realization of Buddhist teachings and Buddhist philosophy. The application of this achievement comes from the wisdom of Prajna, and the manifestation of its value and blessings comes from the practice of offering and giving. The two-fold nourishment is the collection of the exoteric and esoteric teachings of the Tripitaka and the Tantric scriptures.
As early as 1995, Yiyun Gao publicly burned his immature paintings in Jinghui Villa, Dayi County, China. In order to be responsible for passing on the master's painting and calligraphy art to future generations, the World Buddhist Association decided not to handle any handbooks of the master's immature works during his study and research period. Venerable Jueyu emphasized that the World Buddhist Association defines the master as a holy virtue of Buddhism, and his image should be protected by Buddhism. Therefore, there should be no fake works of his paintings in the world. Therefore, the World Buddhist Association decided to sign a contract with the master to guarantee the authenticity of his works. The brokerage of the master's paintings will not charge any fees, and everything done by the World Buddhist Association is based on the law, not on individuals, and everything is for the dignity of art and the benefit of the public, and for the solemnity of the master's image in Buddhism.
The World Buddhist Association voluntarily guarantees the authenticity of his works. For the paintings and calligraphy personally created by Yiyun Gao, the master must personally write a guarantee letter, stamp it with his own gold seal fingerprint and secret note, and the handbooks must be authenticated by the Five Ming Art Department of the World Buddhist Association and stamped with the exquisite seal of the word "Yun Gao" at the bottom. The handbooks must also be signed by the chairman of the association. This makes him a painter whose quality is guaranteed by the World Buddhist Association.
- Translated from "ETtoday News Report"