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Hong Choon | |
|---|---|
宏船法師 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1907-10-09)9 October 1907[1] |
| Died | 25 December 1990(1990-12-25) (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Singaporean Chinese |
| Occupation | Abbot |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery |
| Predecessor | VenerableZhuan Dao |
| Successor | Venerable Yan Pei |
Students
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Hong Choon (Chinese:宏船法師; 1907 – 25 December 1990) was the second president of theSingapore Buddhist Federation and the second abbot ofKong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
Hong Choon was born in 1907 inJinjiang, Fujian province, China.[2] In 1922, at the age of 13, he was ordained by Hui Quan atCheng Tian Temple and was given hisDharma name, Hong Choon. During theSecond Sino-Japanese war, Venerable Hong Choon fled southern China with his master, seeking refuge in Singapore.[3]
Hong Choon also studiedFeng Shui under Master Yen Ben in the 1950s.[4]
Venerable Hong Choon became theabbot ofKong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery[5] in 1943, administering the temple and representing it at social and Buddhist functions for over four decades, propagatingBuddhism inSingapore. During his leadership, the monastery transformed from two shrine halls into amonastic facility with a total area as large as ten football fields, the largest venue of Buddhist practice in Singapore. He also initiated the monthly Great Compassion Prayer and propagated the Dharma during his charge.
Hong Choon was the President of Singapore Buddhist Federation, and also nominated as the honorary president of several Buddhist temples in Singapore, and in the Southeast Asia region.[6] The Thai King,Bhumibol Adulyadej conferred him the title of Highest Monk, Phra Ajancin Bodhi Sangvara Sinhanakorn Kanachan in 1987.[3]
Ven Hong Choon was also honored as one of the prominentFeng Shui masters of his time.[7]
Towards his later years, Venerable Hong Choon made eight visits to China between 1982 and 1990. During thesepilgrimages, which included visiting sacred Buddhist sites and officiating religious ceremonies, he met Chinese and Buddhist leaders to help restore the monasteries associated with his master Venerable Hui Quan.[8]
Hong Choon died on 25 December 1990, after which a relicstupa[9] and a memorial hall[10] was built at the Phor Kark See Monastery conmemorating him.
