Master Monk Yue Zhao Delivered Address

Resume of Master Monk Yue Zhao

His former surname was Zhang, and literary name Zhao De. He was born in Harbin of Northeast China. At the age of 20, he became a monk in Qinglian Temple at Yandang Mountain, Zhejiang Province of East China. He received professional Buddhist education at Minnan Buddhist Institute, Fujian Province of East China. In 1993, he was appointed by the Buddhist Association of China to be the abbot of Xuedou Temple in Zhejiang Province. He was then the youngest among all abbots at key temples of China. From 1999 to 2003, he acted as abbots at Zhiyuan Temple of Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui Province of Central China, Chanyuan Temple of West Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang Provincen of East China, Mingyue Temple at Diaobing Mountain and Guangyou Temple at Liaoyang City in Liaoning Province of Northeast China. In 2004, he invited prominent Buddhist masters together with famous calligraphy and painting artists both within China and abroad for the establishment of China Zen Art Academy. As the dean of this academy, he has been at the inheritance and promotion of Zen art through the years.

Ribbon-cutting Ceremony

Master Monk Yue Zhao Ushered in the Dignitaries to View the Exhibition

Transcendence of Time with a Poplar Branch in Hand by Master Monk Yue Zhao

For the promotion of traditional Chinese culture, art exchanges between Macao and the mainland, as well as local cultural activities in Macao, the Macao exhibition of the 'Fragrant Breeze and Timely Rain: World Tour Exhibition of Zen Paintings by Master Monk Yue Zhao' was held at Macao UNESCO Center from May 5^thto 11^th. Sponsored by Macao Foundation, the exhibition brought Macao people to understand and appreciate the charms of contemporary Chinese Zen culture and arts. There were over 100 select pieces of Zen paintings by Master Monk Yue Zhao to enlighten the audience on relationship between matter and spirit, between sense and mind. Among the exhibits were 10 pieces of calligraphy artworks by Grand Master Hsing Yun from Taiwan which are now within the collection of Master Monk Yue Zhao.

Present at the launching ceremony were dignitaries from Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry Foreign of Affairs in Macao, Macao Foundation, Culture Department of Macao Government, Macao Daily News, Macao Artist Society and Macao Buddhist Association. In his speech, Master Monk Yue Zhao thanked Macao Foundation for this exhibition as an opportunity to further introduce Zen arts to Macao people. He said that the prerequisite of a touching Zen painting is that the artist must have Buddha in his heart so as to have Buddha at his brush tip. He hoped that people may appreciate Buddha's benevolence and optimism, learn to overcome the most fearsome devil in one's mind, reach a clear understanding of oneself, so as to gain enlightenment of the Buddha's true essence and lead a splendid life.