Yao Guangxiao, a monk named Daoyan, was the hero behind the Ming Dynasty's Battle of Jingyan. His life is full of legends, from an ordinary monk to Zhu Di's important adviser, but finally after his death, he was removed from the temple and became a controversial figure in history.
In Changzhou, Jiangsu Province in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, a child with an extraordinary fate was born, his name was Yao Tianxi, and later generations were more familiar with his other name - Yao Guangxiao.
The Yao family, who came from an ordinary family, is well-known in the local area because of the traditional Chinese medicine tradition.
Yao Tianxu has been extremely intelligent since he was a child, but the young Yao Tianxu always has an indescribable confusion and longing in his heart.
He felt that his fate should not be confined to this small town.
Whenever night comes, the starry sky always arouses his curiosity and yearning for the unknown.
He began to think about the meaning of life and became interested in knowledge beyond traditional medicine.
At that time, Buddhism had a profound impact on people's lives. Monasteries are not only religious sites, but also places of knowledge and culture.
For Yao Tianxi, becoming a monk meant not only a spiritual quest, but also an opportunity to reach out into the wider world.
In 1362, when Yao Tianxu was 14 years old, he decided to become a monk and took the Dharma name Daoyan.
After becoming a monk, Dao Yan was not fully immersed in Buddhism, but his curiosity drove him to study Taoist and Confucian classics, and he had a desire to explore all things in the world.
One day, when Dao Yan was traveling in Songshan Temple, he met the famous scholar Yuan Hui.
Yuan Heng's vision is sharp, and he is used to peeking into fate from people's temperament and physiognomy.
When his gaze fell on the young Dao Yan, an indescribable feeling came over him.
Yuan Heng carefully observed Dao Yan, and then spoke: "What a strange monk!."The eyes are triangular, shaped like a sick tiger, and the sex will be murderous, and Liu Bingzhong is also flowing. ”
These words sounded undoubtedly a great irony to a monk at the time, but Dao Yan did not feel angry about it, but was overjoyed.
Yuan Hui's words seemed to have ignited a fire in his heart and aroused his deep desire for power.
From then on, Daoyan took Liu Bingzhong, a monk who had helped Kublai Khan establish the Great Yuan Dynasty, as his role model and goal.
This encounter had a profound impact on Daoyan.
He began to dabble more actively in various studies, drawing on the essence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, while secretly observing the changes in the current situation.
Daoyan's inner world underwent a great transformation after this prophecy.
He was no longer satisfied with a purely religious life, but began to brew an even greater change.
Yuan Hui's prophecy is like a mirror, reflecting the secret and strong desire in Dao Yan's heart.
This desire eventually led him to a different path – one that eventually led him to become Zhu Di's advisor, a figure who left a deep mark on the history of the Ming Dynasty.
From that moment on, Dao Yan was not just a simple monk, his life trajectory was reoriented, towards an unknown world full of ambition and opportunity.
In the last years of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, the fate of the Daoyan monk took a turn.
In the thirty-first year of Hongwu (1398), Zhu Yuanzhang died, and his grandson Zhu Yunwen succeeded to the throne as Emperor Jianwen.
The young Emperor Jianwen, instigated by Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and other ministers, decided to reduce the power of the kings, which aroused strong dissatisfaction among the vassal kings everywhere.
Among them, Zhu Di, the king of Yan, is particularly crucial.
Zhu Di, as the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, has been guarding the border passes in the northern frontier and has made outstanding achievements.
When he heard the news of the cutting of the feudal domain, the anger in his heart was like a raging fire, and a sense of crisis arose.
It was at this time that the monk Daoyan became a key figure in his fate.
The relationship between the monk Daoyan and Zhu Di began with the funeral of Empress Ma in the fifteenth year of Hongwu (1382).
Dao Yan was chosen as the chief monk of the vassal king, and it was during this period that he became attached to Zhu Di. Monk Daoyan is not only proficient in Buddhism, but also dabbles in the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and his profound knowledge and unique life experience make him unique in Zhu Di's eyes.
Monk Daoyan showed his extraordinary talent in his first conversation with Zhu Di. He was able to discuss not only Buddhism with quotations from the classics, but also Confucian classics and Taoist thought.
Zhu Di was full of praise for the views of the monk Daoyan, and the conversation between the two soon extended beyond the realm of religion to national affairs and philosophical reflections.
In the days that followed, the monk Daoyan frequently went in and out of the Yanwang Mansion, and his relationship with Zhu Di became increasingly close.
Their exchanges were no longer confined to Buddhism or philosophy, but gradually involved political and military strategy.
Zhu Di had a deep trust in the wisdom and insights of the monk Daoyan, and often consulted him on national affairs, and even consulted him on military strategy.
The influence of the monk Daoyan gradually deepened in Zhu Di's heart.
His advice is often forward-looking and profound, allowing Zhu Di to keep his mind clear in the face of complex situations.
With the passage of time, the position of the monk Daoyan in Zhu Di's heart became more and more important, and he gradually changed from a Buddhist monk to Zhu Di's political adviser and think tank.
When Zhu Yuanzhang died, Zhu Yunwen's policy of cutting the feudal domain made Zhu Di feel that his power was threatened.
His doubts and dissatisfaction became more and more evident in the secret conversation with the monk Daoyan. With his profound wisdom and understanding of the way of heaven, the monk Daoyan gradually influenced Zhu Di's thinking. He not only provided Zhu Di with the courage to resist, but also provided strategic and intellectual support.
In the planning stage of the Battle of Jingyan, the role of Daoyan monk was indispensable.
He not only participated in the organization and mobilization of the rebels, but more importantly, when Zhu Di hesitated, he inspired Zhu Di's determination with the phrase "Heaven dictates, what about the people's will".
Monk Daoyan was well versed in the art of the five elements of yin and yang, and his wisdom and strategy were crucial to Zhu Di's actions.
He helped Zhu Di develop military plans, arrange logistics, and provide subtle strategic advice at critical moments.
It was with the assistance of the monk Daoyan that Zhu Di was able to keep a clear mind in the chaotic battle situation, and finally won the victory in the Battle of Jingyan.
After the Battle of Jingyan, the life of the monk Daoyan underwent a drastic change. This battle established Zhu Di's throne, and at the same time brought unprecedented glory to Daoyan.
In recognition of his contributions, Zhu Di not only gave him the name of Yao Guangxiao, but also named him Shangzhu Guo and Rongguo Gong, and gave him a luxurious mansion and stunning beauty.
However, Daoyan's inner world is extremely complicated and contradictory in the face of these honors.
As time passed, Doyan began to feel deep remorse for his past actions.
He gave up his power and honor, chose to return to the temple life, chanted sutras and recited Buddha, and deeply reflected on what he had done.
He rejected Zhu Di's repeated requests and insisted on maintaining his status as a monk.
All the gold and silver treasures given by Zhu Di, he gave them to the poor.
However, his inner transformation does not change the outside world's perception of him.
His role in the Battle of Jingjing, as well as his help in Zhu Di's ascension to the throne, made him a symbol of contradiction and controversy in the eyes of many.
After Zhu Di's death, Mingrenzong Zhu Gaochi succeeded to the throne, and the monk Daoyan was posthumously awarded the first meritorious hero of Jingnan, and his spiritual position was put into the Taimiao, which was the highest honor for him at that time.
However, in the Jiajing period, the fate of the Daoyan monk took another turn. In the ninth year of Jiajing (1530), Emperor Jiajing of Ming Shizong Zhu Houxi decided to remove the monk Daoyan from the Taimiao.
This decision was based on a number of considerations.
First of all, Zhu Houxi himself has a strong belief in Taoism, and as a Buddhist monk, his identity conflicts with Jiajing's religious beliefs.
Secondly, from a political point of view, Zhu Di was able to praise the monk Daoyan, but later emperors found it difficult to approve of his act of instigating the rebellion of the vassal king.
Such recognition might be seen as a tacit acquiescence to the rebellion, which was extremely detrimental to the preservation of imperial rule.
Therefore, although Monk Daoyan enjoyed great honor during his lifetime, he gradually became a controversial and forgotten figure in the long course of history. His life and deeds have become a rather complicated chapter in the history of the Ming Dynasty. The story of Monk Daoyan is not only a change in personal fate, but also a reflection of the religious, political and moral conflicts of that era.