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Yao Guangxiao (姚廣孝, 1335–1418), also known by hisdharma nameDaoyan (道衍), was a Chinese military strategist, statesman andChan Buddhist monk who lived in the lateYuan and earlyMing dynasties.
Daoyan was born in Changzhou County (today a part ofSuzhou,Jiangsu) with ancestral roots inFuzhou, and was ordained as abhikkhu (full monk) at the age of fourteen. He studied Buddhist dharma,yin yang anddivination. In 1382, he came toBeijing, and was appointed theabbot of Qingshou Temple (慶壽寺). Later, he became a close adviser of the imperial princeZhu Di, the Prince of Yan.[1]
According toHistory of Ming, it was Daoyan who suggested a revolt against theJianwen Emperor after the emperor, a nephew of Zhu Di, started to crack down on the influence of his uncles the imperial princes. Daoyan played an important role in the resulting three-year civil war, theJingnan Campaign, which resulted in the disappearance of the Jianwen Emperor, and the Prince of Yan becoming the new Yongle Emperor. He was left in Beijing together withZhu Gaochi to guard the base area. Zhu Di asked him for strategy through letters before important battles. It was Daoyan who suggested driving south to attackNanjing directly, which made Zhu Di the final victor.[1]
After Zhu Di was crowned theYongle Emperor, Daoyan was bestowed the nameYao Guangxiao, and granted the title Crown Prince's Preceptor (太子少師). The Yongle Emperor ordered him to return to secular life but he refused. He was then ordered to participate in superintending the recompilation ofTaizu Shilu, the imperial annal of the Ming dynasty's founder, theHongwu Emperor. Later, he was appointed general editor of theYongle Encyclopedia[2] together withXie Jin.[3]
Yao died in Qingshou Temple, Beijing, in 1418, and was given theposthumous nameGongjing (恭靖) and made the "Duke of Rong" (榮國公) by the Yongle Emperor.[1] His ashes was buried underneath Yao Guangxiao Pagoda (39°49′12″N116°04′48″E / 39.820°N 116.080°E /39.820; 116.080 (Yao Guangxiao Pagoda), in modern Changlesi Village, Qinglonghu Town,Fangshan District, Beijing)[4] which has since been named a protected historical site.
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