Chapter 2 "Heart and Zen" Preface by Huai Mr. Li Shutong

Feng Zikai Twenty-nine years ago, when I was seventeen years old, I first met Mr. Li Shutong, who later became Master Hongyi, in Zhejiang Provincial First Normal School in Hangzhou.I was a prep student and he was our music teacher.When we took his music lessons, there was a special feeling: seriousness.After ringing the preparatory bell, we walked to the music classroom, pushed in the door, and were surprised first: Mr. Li was already sitting on the podium.Students who thought that the teacher was always late and pushed in the door by singing, shouting, laughing or cursing casually were even more surprised.Their singing, shouting, laughing, and cursing suddenly disappeared with the threshold as the boundary.Then he lowered his head and blushed, and went to sit upright in his seat.Sitting in his seat and looking up secretly, he saw Mr. Li's tall and thin upper body wearing a neat black mandarin jacket, exposed on the podium, a forehead so wide that he could walk around, and slender hyacinth eyes. , The bridge of the nose is upright, forming a majestic expression.The flat and wide lips often have deep dimples at both ends, showing a kind expression.To describe this appearance with three words of gentle and fierce, it is probably about the same.On the desk are roll call books, handouts, his lecture notebooks, and chalk.The piano clothes were untied, the piano cover was opened, the score was placed, and there was a timepiece on the head of the piano, and the shining golden light shone directly into our eyes.The blackboard (the upper and lower pieces can be pushed) has clearly written what should be written in this lesson (both pieces are written, the upper piece covers the lower one, and the upper piece is pushed away when using the lower one).On the podium arranged in this way, Mr. Li sat upright.When the class bell rang (later we learned that he had such a temper that he had to arrive early for music class. Therefore, when the class bell rang, the students had already arrived), he stood up, bowed deeply, and the class began.In class like this, the atmosphere is very serious.

There was a person who read other books instead of singing during music class, and another person spit on the floor during music class, thinking that Mr. Li didn't see it, but in fact he knew it.But he didn't blame him immediately. After class, he solemnly said in a very light and serious voice: "So-and-so wait to get out."So this so-and-so classmate had to stand.When the other students had gone out, he said kindly to this XX classmate in a soft and serious voice: "Don't read other books in class next time."Or: next time don't spit on the floor.After saying that, he bowed slightly, indicating that you should go out.Most of the people who came out had red faces.Another time, after a music class, the last person to go out unintentionally opened the door, knocking it too hard and making a loud noise.After he had walked dozens of steps, Mr. Li came out of the door and asked him to come back with a friendly face.When he arrived, Mr. Li called him into the classroom again.After entering the classroom, Mr. Li said kindly to him in a very light and serious voice: Next time you walk out of the classroom, close the door gently.She bowed to him, sent him out, and closed the door gently by herself.The most unforgettable thing is a time when I took piano lessons.We are normal students, and everyone has to learn to play the piano. There are fifty or sixty organs and two pianos in the whole school.There are two organs in each room for students to practice; one piano is placed in the singing classroom, and the other is placed in the piano playing classroom.During the piano playing class, a group of more than ten people stood around the piano and watched Mr. Li play.Once during the performance, a classmate farted. There was no sound, but it was very smelly.Piano and Mr. Li's dozens of classmates were all immersed in the atmosphere of Armonia.Most of the students covered their noses or made annoying noises.Mr. Li frowned, and played the piano himself (I think he must be holding his breath).At the end of the play, Armonia's breath was gone, and his brows were just relaxed.After teaching, the get out of class bell rang.Mr. Li stood up and bowed, indicating that the class was over.After the class was over, and the students hadn't gone out yet, Mr. Li solemnly announced: Everyone, wait a while, there is one more word.Everyone stood up again.Mr. Li said kindly again in a very light and serious voice: From now on, if you fart, go outside the door and don't put it indoors.Then he bowed again, indicating that we were asked to go out.The students all held back their laughter, and as soon as they came out, everyone ran to a distance to laugh.

Mr. Li taught us music with such an attitude, so we feel more serious in music class than in all other classes.At the same time, I admire the music teacher Mr. Li Shutong more than other teachers.At that time, the schools focused on the so-called English, Chinese, and arithmetic, that is, English, Chinese, and arithmetic.In other schools, the teachers of these three subjects are the most authoritative; but in our normal school, the music teacher is the most authoritative, because he is Mr. Li Shutong. Why does Mr. Li Shutong have such authority?Not only for his good knowledge, not only for his good music, but mainly for his serious attitude.The biggest characteristic of Mr. Li's life is seriousness.For one thing, if he doesn't do it, he has to do it; if he wants to do it, he must do it thoroughly.

He was born into a wealthy family, and his father was a well-known banker in Tianjin.He was born of the fifth concubine.His father was seventy-two years old when he was born.After he fell to the ground, his father died, and when his family changed, he accompanied his biological mother to move south to Shanghai when he was young.When he was studying at Nanyang Public School in Shanghai and serving his mother, he was a handsome young man.At that time, there was a well-known Shanghai Academy in the Shanghai literary world. Mr. Li was called for essays by the Shanghai Academy, and his name repeatedly ranked first.From then on, he was highly regarded by celebrities in Shanghai, and he made friends with each other day by day, and finally became famous in Shanghai at that time as a talented man.So after his mother died, when he went to study in Japan, he wrote a song called "Witch Hazel", which read: "Let's go wild with your hair loose."In the central plains of Mang, crows sing at dusk, and a few willows wither.Who will clean up the broken rivers and mountains?The west wind is still scattered.It made people lose weight.After the journey, I will take a deep breath and say that the lovesickness is deep in my bones, and I have two red beans.Sorrow is darker than wine.Yang Qing constantly Songbo Liu.I hate every year that the fluff floats in the water, and I look back when I look back.Twenty articles shocked the sea, after all, what is empty talk!Listen to the roar of the blue dragon at the bottom of the box.The west wind can't sleep in the long night, and it's a pity that Du Qunsheng is heartbroken.Is the motherland, bear the disappointment?Reading this poem, one can imagine that he was full of pride and patriotism at that time.When he became a monk, he gave me all the photos of the past. I saw him in Shanghai at that time: a velvet bowl hat with a white jade in the middle, a curvy vest, a brocade robe, fat braids hanging from the back, and a ribbon underneath. Paired feet, thick-soled shoes with double beams, raised head high, handsome air is revealed in the eyebrows and eyes.He was really the first-class Mr. Pianpian in Shanghai at that time.This is the original expression of his characteristics: everything is serious.He intends to be Mr. Pianpian, so he will be Mr. Pianpian thoroughly.

Later, when he went to Japan and saw the culture of the Meiji Restoration, he longed for Western civilization.He immediately gave up the attitude of Mr. Pianpian and became an overseas student instead.He entered the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and at the same time entered the music school.These schools all imitate the West, and all they teach are Western paintings and Western music.Mr. Li learned English very well when he was in Nanyang Public School; when he arrived in Japan, he bought a lot of books on Western literature.When he became a monk, he gave me an incomplete original "The Complete Works of Shakespeare". He said to me: I have read this book carefully before, and there are many notes on it. Although it is incomplete, it is also a souvenir.From this, it can be imagined that when he was in Japan, he made an all-out attack on Western art, studying painting, music, literature, and drama.Later, he founded the Chunliu Drama Club in Japan, gathered comrades studying abroad, and performed famous Western tragedies at that time (by Alexandre Dumas).He himself put on a small waist, dressed as La Traviata, and appeared on stage.This photo was also given to me when he became a monk, and it has been in my collection until it was destroyed by war during the Anti-Japanese War.Now I still remember this picture: curly hair, white blouse, white long skirt dragging the floor, waist so small, hands raised to support the back, head tilted to the right, brows furrowed, eyes slanting, just staring La Traviata's self-harming look.In addition, there are many photos of the play, too many to remember.The Spring Willow Drama Club later moved back to China, and Mr. Li left and was run by another group of people, which became the original Chinese drama club.It can be imagined from this that when Mr. Li was in Japan, he was an international student through and through.I've seen photos of him at that time: tall hat, stiff collar, stiff sleeves, tuxedo, stickers, pointed leather shoes, plus a long body, a high nose, and glasses without feet clipped on the bridge of his nose, he looked like a Westerner.This is the second time to express his characteristic: everything is serious.Learn the same, like the same.To be an international student, be an international student thoroughly.

After returning to China, he worked as an editor at the Shanghai Pacific News Agency.Soon, he was invited by Nanjing Higher Normal School to teach painting and music.Later, he was hired by the Hangzhou Normal University to teach in two schools at the same time. He lived in Nanjing for half a month and Hangzhou for half a month.Both schools hire teaching assistants, who will take over when he is away.I am a student of Hangzhou Normal University.At this time, Mr. Li has changed from an overseas student to a teacher.This change has become really thorough: the beautiful western clothes are no longer worn, but gray coarse cloth robes, black cloth mandarin jackets, and cloth-soled shoes are replaced.The gold-rimmed glasses were also replaced with black wire-rimmed glasses.He is a well-trained artist, so he is very particular about appearance.Although the clothes are commoner, they fit well and are often tidy.He wears common clothes, full of infinite features, but also has a simple beauty.As you can imagine, he played the role of La Traviata, and his figure was very slim.Wearing commoner clothes, he is still a handsome man.Light make-up is always suitable. This poem was originally used to describe Xizi, but it is also very suitable to describe our Mr. Li's appearance.People today talk about the art of life, most of them are curious and innovative, not artistic.Mr. Li's clothes can really be called the art of life.His clothing of an era expresses the thought and life of an era.The thought and life of each age are very different, and the clothes of each age are also very different.Mr. Li, who wears cloth and shoes, is completely different from Mr. Li who was in the western dress era, and Mr. Li who was in the era of curved vest.This is the third expression of his characteristic: earnestness.

When I was in second grade, drawing was taught by Mr. Li.He taught us to sketch from life in charcoal plaster models.The classmate has always been used to sketching and drawing, but at first he couldn't start.Among the more than forty people, none of them could describe them decently.Later he modeled the paintings for us to see.After painting, put the fan painting on the blackboard.Most of the students looked at the blackboard and climbed.Only me and a few classmates sketched from plaster models according to his method.From then on I became interested in sketching.At this point, I suddenly realized: Those fans were originally sketched by others after seeing the real thing.We should also start directly from the sketching of real objects, why bother to copy others and draw gourds in the same way?So my painting improved.Since then, Mr. Li has more chances to get close to me.Because I often ask him to teach painting and Japanese, I know more about Mr. Li's life in detail.He used to read books on Xingli, but later he suddenly believed in Taoism, and he often kept Daozang on his desk.At that time, I was still a young man with a hairy head, and I couldn't talk about religion.Except for painting, Mr. Li didn't talk to me.But I found that his life is getting more and more restrained day by day, as if he is about to leave for a distant place.He often gives me things he doesn't use.When his friends Japanese painters Ryutoku Ono, Shinzo Kawai, and Katsumi Miyake came to West Lake to sketch, he took me to treat them to a meal, and then handed over these Japanese to me and asked me to guide them (I was already Able to speak Japanese for common entertainment).He himself closed the door to study Taoism.One day, he decided to go to Dacishan to fast. I had class work and couldn't accompany me, so Wenyu, the school worker, accompanied me.A few days later, I went to see him.I saw him lying on the bed, his face was thin, but he was in good spirits, and he spoke to me as usual.He fasted for seventeen days. He was helped up by Wen Yu and took a picture. On the top of the film, Wen Yu inscribed: Mr. Li Xiweng's portrait after fasting, inscribed by his servant Wen Yu.This photo was later made into a postcard and distributed to friends.The bottom of the image is printed in typesetting: on a certain day, month and day, enter Daci Mountain and fast for 17 days, transform body and mind, happy Kangqiang Xinxin Taoist record.At this time, Mr. Li has changed from a teacher to a Taoist.

Fasting for 17 days after learning Taoism is also an expression of his seriousness in everything. But his learning time was very short.After fasting, he soon learned Buddhism.He himself told me that his study of Buddhism was instructed by Mr. Ma Yifu.A few days before he became a monk, he and I went to Yuquan, West Lake to see Mr. Cheng Zhonghe.This Mr. Cheng used to be a soldier, but now he has retired and lives in Yuquan. He is planning to become a monk.Mr. Li had a long talk with him.Not long after that, I accompanied Ohno Ryutoku to Yuquan to stay overnight, and I saw a monk sitting there. It was Mr. Cheng.I want to call him Mr. Cheng, but I don't think it fits.I wanted to call him a mage, but I didn't know his dharma name (later I found out it was Hongsan).For a while, it was very organized.I went back and told Mr. Li, and Mr. Li told me that he would soon become a monk and become Hongsan's teacher.I was stunned and didn't know what was right.After a few days, he really resigned and was going to become a monk.The night before he became a monk, he asked me, my classmates Ye Tianrui and Li Zengyong, to go to his room and gave us all the things in the room.The next day, the three of us sent him to Hupao.When we got back and got his inheritance, when we went to visit him again, he was already bald and dressed in a monk's robe, looking like a sober mage.I have since changed my words and called him a mage.The Master's Seng La was twenty-four years old.In the past twenty-four years, I have been ups and downs, but he has been consistent to the end, and his practice has become deeper and deeper.At the beginning, we practiced Pure Land Buddhism, and later we practiced Law School.The Law Sect pays attention to precepts, every action is disciplined, and it is extremely serious.This is the most difficult sect of Buddhism.For hundreds of years, the tradition was cut off, and it was not revived until Master Hongyi, so Buddhism called him the eleventh generation patriarch of Chongxing Nanshan Lvzong.He takes life very seriously.To give an example: Once I sent a roll of rice paper and asked Master Hongyi to write the name of the Buddha.There was more rice paper, so he wrote to me and asked me, what should I do with the extra rice paper?Another time, I sent a return stamp, a few cents more.He sent me back the extra cents.In the future, when I send paper or stamps, I will declare in advance: I will send the excess to the Master.Once he came to my house.I asked him to sit in the rattan chair.He shook the rattan chair slightly, and then sat down slowly.At first I was afraid to ask.Later, seeing that he was like this every time, I asked him.The mage replied, "There may be bugs lying in the chair between the two vines."Sitting down suddenly will crush them to death, so shake it first and sit down slowly to let them get out of the way.Readers may laugh when they hear this.But that's what it means to be extremely serious.

As mentioned above, Master Hongyi changed from Prince Pianpian to an overseas student, then to a teacher, third to a Taoist, and fourth to a monk.Every kind of person is very decent.It's like an all-round actor: Tsing Yi looks like a Tsing Yi, an old student looks like an old student, and a big face looks like a big face all because of seriousness. Master Hongyi has now passed away in Quanzhou, Fujian.When the bad news reached Zunyi, Guizhou, I was packing up and moving to Chongqing.After I arrived in Chongqing, I made a vow to paint 100 frames of the master, and distributed them to believers and charities everywhere, and carved stones as offerings.Now the portrait has come true.My relationship with Mr. Li as a teacher and brother in the world has ended, but his legacy will always be engraved in my heart.