Chapter 75 5. Li Shutong

Feng Zikai described his teacher Li Shutong in this way: "When he was studying at Nanyang Public School in Shanghai and serving his mother, he was a handsome young man... I once saw him in Shanghai at that time in photos: a velvet bowl hat with a white jade in the middle, a curved A vest, a floral satin robe, fat braids on the back, ribbons tied to the feet, and thick-soled shoes with double beams. The head is raised high, and the handsomeness is revealed in the eyebrows. He was really the first-class young man in Shanghai at that time.  … …Later when he came to Japan, he longed for Western civilization. He immediately gave up the attitude of Mr. Pianpian and became a student studying abroad. …I have seen his photos at that time: high hat, stiff collar, stiff sleeves, tuxedo, smock, Pointed-toed leather shoes, combined with a long body, a high nose, and glasses without feet pinched on the bridge of the nose, he looked like a Westerner... After he returned to China,... he changed from an overseas student to a teacher. This change has become really thorough: beautiful He gave up his western clothes, but changed into a gray coarse robe, a black mandarin jacket, and cloth-soled shoes. The gold-rimmed glasses were also replaced with black steel-rimmed glasses. He is a well-trained artist, so he is very particular about his appearance. Although the clothes are commoner, they fit well and are often neat. He wears commoner clothes, full of infinite appearance, but also has a kind of simple beauty....Mr. , as if there were three people."

Jiang Danshu recalled Li Shutong: "The Venerable Master has a very handsome appearance. When he was young, although he was dressed in brocade clothes, he was suave and romantic. When he was acting in new dramas, he liked to play the role of a female role. However, when Min Yuan was a teacher in Hangzhou, he was completely clothed and no suits; he had a short mustache on his upper lip. He was recently a monk. There is also a yellow beard on the lower jaw, and when he is about to become a monk, he cuts a few yellow beards and wraps them up as souvenirs for Riji and his close friends. The Venerable Master walks with heavy footsteps; when he was a colleague of Hangzhou No. 1 Normal School, he lived with Yu in the east building, and every time he walked through Yu Hall, he did not need to see him, but only heard his footsteps from afar to know that he was coming soon carry on.

The Venerable Master usually goes to bed early and wakes up early, and wipes his body with cold water at dawn every day. Therefore, although his physique is clean, his energy is quite concentrated, and he rarely gets sick. " After Li Shutong came to Tokyo, he quickly cut off his long braids and adapted to the Japanese way of life. He couldn't tell the difference from the Japanese around him.A Japanese reporter who once interviewed Li Shutong said: "Li Shutong is a young man with round shoulders, with a burly figure, wearing a navy blue kimono, and a black gauze belt around his waist. His head is three to seven points. The hairstyle, the tone of voice are always peaceful and serene.”

Feng Zikai recalled Li Shutong when he was in Zhejiang No. 1 Division: "When we took his music class, we had a special feeling: seriousness.... Mr. Li's tall and thin upper body was wearing a neat black cloth jacket, which was exposed on the desk. On the forehead, the broad forehead, slender phoenix eyes, and upright nose bridge form a majestic expression. The flat and wide lips often have deep dimples at both ends, showing a kind expression. There are two words to describe it, which is about the same. On the desk are the roll call book, handouts, and his teaching notebook, chalk. Holding a time watch, the shining golden light shines directly into our eyes. The things that should be written in this class have been clearly written on the blackboard. On the podium arranged in this way, Mr. Li sat upright. He sat until the class bell rang. (We later learned that he had such a temper that he had to arrive early for music class. Therefore, when the class bell rang, the classmates had already arrived.) He stood up, bowed deeply, and the class began. Classes like this, the atmosphere is so serious very."

When Chen Xing mentioned Uncle Li to Liu Haisu, there was a strange gleam in Liu's eyes, and he turned his head slightly excitedly to his wife and said: "She knows Li Shutong!——We are very good friends. , When I came to Shanghai once, many old acquaintances who became senior officials warmly welcomed him to live in a luxurious house, but he refused all of them, preferring to live in a small Guandi Temple. I went to see him: wearing a pair of straw sandals with bare feet, There was only one plank bed in the room. I was so sad that I cried; but his eyes were downcast and his face was solemn. I begged him for a word, and he just wrote 'Namo Amitabha Buddha'..."

Xia Mianzun and Feng Zikai hosted a banquet for Master Hongyi in the Gongde Forest, and Ye Shengtao was also invited.After entering the room, Ye saw the mage sitting in a corner by the window with a smile, his tiny eyes shining with crystal light.He leisurely twirled the rosary in his hand, while the old friends and students present just sat silently with him, but such silence did not appear cold or awkward.The mage was extremely focused when serving food, with a joyful and satisfied expression, which reminded Ye Shengtao of the way he swallowed without knowing the taste of his mouth when he usually ate, and felt ashamed in his heart.During the dinner, Li Shicen asked Master Hongyi to talk about his opinions on life.Hongyi replied: "Ashamed, I can't say anything without research."

After fasting, Hongyi said that he had an appointment with Master Yinguang, so seven or eight people followed him to visit Master Yinguang.The group did not call a rickshaw, but walked all the way.Hongyi was barefoot and wore a pair of walking shoes made of tangled cloth. He walked lightly, but the young man felt quite strenuous.When he arrived at the gate of Taiping Temple, Hongyi took out a long-sleeved monk's robe from his bag, and put it on respectfully, with an unusually quiet look on his brow.After meeting Yinguang, Hongyi introduced several guests accompanying him, and then clasped his hands together and implored Master Yinguang to give a merciful lecture to Li Shicen, who came with him, and said that he had studied some principles of the Consciousness-Wei School of Mahayana Buddhism from a certain gentleman.Yin Guang began to talk incessantly, his voice was quite severe, and he occasionally shouted.Master Hongyi made a second appeal, hoping that Master Yin would talk about the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism.Ye Shengtao felt that Hongyi and Yinguang had completely different temperaments.Old Master Yinguang is a preacher himself, and he will do his best to spread the word whenever he encounters an opportunity. From him, he can clearly feel a kind of strength and courage derived from firm belief; Master Hongyi is different, he seems to be a person on the grassland. A silent tree grows vigorously by itself, but it doesn't make people feel the arrogance of being superior to other trees.

When parting, Hong Yi bowed his knees to Yin Guang again to say goodbye.After everyone walked out of the room, he stretched out his hand and closed the two doors solemnly and swiftly.When he arrived outside the temple, he took off his long-sleeved monk's robe, and Fangzheng folded it flat and wrapped it up.