济公 (Jìgōng): Jigong (1130-1207), Southern So…

Meanings

1 Jigong (1130-1207), Southern Song Buddhist monk known as the 'Mad Monk'

Characters

济

Examples

济公是中国民间最受欢迎的和尚之一。

Jìgōng shì Zhōngguó mínjiān zuì shòu huānyíng de héshàng zhī yī.

Jigong is one of the most beloved monks in Chinese folk tradition.

他穿得破破烂烂，活像个济公。

Tā chuān de pòpolànlàn, huóxiàng ge Jìgōng.

He's dressed in tatters — he looks just like Jigong.

Tips

culture

Born Li Xiuyuan (李修缘) and ordained at Hangzhou's Lingyin Temple, Jigong famously broke the monastic rules — eating meat, drinking wine, sleeping in the streets — yet was venerated as a living arhat for his compassion and miracles. His story has been retold in countless novels, operas, and TV series, most iconically the 1985 CCTV drama starring You Benchang.