Dharma Master Yin Guang (印光法师 ) - 1861-1940
Dear David
Thank you for your interesting question.
Biography of Ven. Yin Guang (Chinese)
https://baike.baidu.com/item/印光法师/10945693?fromtitle=印光大师&fromid=232596
In this general (standard) biography of Ven. Yin Guang - there is no mention of martial arts training. I cross-referenced this research with the following two alternative biographies of Ven. Yin Guang:
http://fodizi.net/fojiaogushi/23420.html
https://www.sohu.com/a/438399677_385282
Again, there is no reference of martial arts practice. However, sometimes martial arts practice is so obvious, familiar and run of the mill in China that biographers sometimes do not think to include it in biographies. Ven. Yin Guang was very ill and bedridden in his teenage years - where he studied Confucian texts with his brother. He does not seem to have had the strength in his youth to have practiced martial arts. The question is whether he learned martial arts later in his life? Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) had a number of students who practiced Shaolin martial arts (Master Ti Guang, Master Hai Deng and Master Shao Yun, etc). I suspect there were many more, and my friends in China state that Master Xu Yun practiced a 'higher' form of martial arts but forbade anyone from talking about it! Perhaps a similar situation exists for Master Yin Guang - a teacher who was highly respected by Xu Yun!
Best Wishes
Adrian
Thank you for your interesting question.
Biography of Ven. Yin Guang (Chinese)
https://baike.baidu.com/item/印光法师/10945693?fromtitle=印光大师&fromid=232596
In this general (standard) biography of Ven. Yin Guang - there is no mention of martial arts training. I cross-referenced this research with the following two alternative biographies of Ven. Yin Guang:
http://fodizi.net/fojiaogushi/23420.html
https://www.sohu.com/a/438399677_385282
Again, there is no reference of martial arts practice. However, sometimes martial arts practice is so obvious, familiar and run of the mill in China that biographers sometimes do not think to include it in biographies. Ven. Yin Guang was very ill and bedridden in his teenage years - where he studied Confucian texts with his brother. He does not seem to have had the strength in his youth to have practiced martial arts. The question is whether he learned martial arts later in his life? Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) had a number of students who practiced Shaolin martial arts (Master Ti Guang, Master Hai Deng and Master Shao Yun, etc). I suspect there were many more, and my friends in China state that Master Xu Yun practiced a 'higher' form of martial arts but forbade anyone from talking about it! Perhaps a similar situation exists for Master Yin Guang - a teacher who was highly respected by Xu Yun!
Best Wishes
Adrian
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