Huiyuan

• Born: 334
• Died: 417

Huiyuan was an early Chinese Buddhist monk, and one of the more prominent religious figures of his time.

He is famous for a meeting with Emperor Wudao of Chu in 402, in which he suggested that Buddhist clergy, due to their particular position and spiritually-directed life, should not be expected to perform the same displays of obeisance towards lay leaders (including the Emperor) as was expected of laymen. The Emperor agreed and allowed for this, setting an impressive precedent. Huiyuan would later write a short treatise, entitled Shāmén bùjìng wángzhě (沙門不敬王者論, "A Monk Does Not Bow Down Before a King"), explaining his argument more fully.

References

• "The Introduction of Buddhism," Sources of Chinese Tradition, 426-427.