Biography of Venerable Master Hong Yun
Venerable Master Hong Yun, also honored as Master Yi Yun, is a renowned Zen master and abbot.
Dharma names: Cigu (Compassionate Ancient), Yinzheng (Seal of Realization)
Precept name: Yi Yun (One Cloud)
Honorific titles: Shang Yun (Transcending Clouds) and Hong Yun (meaning Vast Cloud), widely known as Master Hong Yun
Lay name: Gu Yixiong
Courtesy name: Lingzi
Poetic epithets: Half-Monk of the Sangha, Ancient Ling of the Celestial Court
Studio name: Lingmiao Hermitage
Former name: Yang Penggu
He is a distinguished Zen artist, a Qimen Dunjia divination expert, and a spiritual leader. Currently, he serves as the Founding Abbot of American Ci Bei Temple and the World Zen Art Center, and as the Chief Divination Consultant at the New York Qi Men Feng Shui Academy.
Artistic and Spiritual Contributions
Master Hong Yun has spent decades integrating Zen cultivation with artistic expression, developing a distinctive style rooted in Chan tradition. He specializes in Zen calligraphy, brush ink painting, Qimen Dunjia divination, and Feng Shui consultation. He also conducts blessing and memorial ceremonies, offering guidance to help devotees dispel misfortune and attract blessings.
Beloved by his followers in New York, he is committed to promoting global appreciation of Eastern Zen art. Through his teachings, he uplifts Buddhist practitioners and furthers his mission to preserve and share the essence of Zen Tao Art for future generations.
A Journey of Mastery
Born in Binzhou, China, in 1971, he graduated an Art Major from Xi’an United University. From a young age, he cultivated a deep interest in Zen and metaphysics, excelling in calligraphy and ink painting. Through decades of Zen practice and artistic creation, he has developed a unique style. He has served as Vice President of the China Zen Art Academy in Hong Kong, and Zen Hall Supervisor at American Tianfo Temple.
At age 27, he took refuge at Great Ci’en Temple in Xi’an, marking his formal commitment to Buddhism. He later founded Peng-Gu Art Studio in Shenzhen and held leadership roles in Zen art institutions. His talents culminated in a successful painting exhibition in New York.
His spiritual path deepened under Elder Miao-Feng at Cihang Jingshe in New York. In 2013, he joined a pilgrimage to sacred Buddhist sites across China, including Lingyin Temple and Mount Putuo. He later traveled through fifteen states across the U.S. and Canada, immersing himself in East-West cultural dialogue.
At 51, he was appointed Zen Hall Supervisor at American Tianfo Temple. A year later, after a profound enlightenment experience, he became a monk at American Tianfo Temple under the name “Yi Yun.” In 2023, in New York, Master Hongyun studied Pure Land Buddhism under Dharma Master Tianpei. In 2024, he founded the American Ci Bei Temple and became its inaugural abbot.
Art Exhibitions and Honors
January 2001: His landscape work was selected for the first “Into the West” Chinese Painting Invitational Exhibition and won the gold medal (Yan’an Chinese Painting Institute, China).
September 2003: The work “Yellow River Roar at Night” was selected for the 6th Japan-China Ink Painting Research Exchange Exhibition (Tokyo, Japan); the work “Hukou Rapids” was selected for the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Exhibition (Nagoya, Japan).
August 2004: The work “Lingnan Seclusion” was selected for the 7th Inner Mongolia Zhaojun Cultural Festival Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition and won the gold medal (Inner Mongolia Art Museum, China).
October 2005: The work “Yellow River” was selected for the Sino-American San Francisco Chinese Painting International Exhibition, winning the International Honor Gold Medal and the title of “International Outstanding Painting Artist” (San Francisco, USA).
January 2008: Attended the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and was awarded the “Outstanding Talent Award for Promoting Traditional Culture” by the National Project for the Promotion of Traditional Culture. In August of the same year, he was honored with the title of “Master of the Generation” by the China Cultural Information Association and China Cultural United Publishing Company.
November 2009: The work “Loess Plateau” was selected for the “First Exhibition of the Chinese Zen Painting Academy in New York” (New York, USA).
September 2014: His ink work “Chanting Sutras” was featured in the New York Multicultural Festival Art Exhibition (New York, USA).
October 2015: Ink landscapes were showcased at the New York Multicultural Art Festival Exhibition, with live ink painting performances (New York, USA).
Published Works
“Art Newspaper” Issue 827
“Collection Express” Issue 325
“Art Review” Issue 39 (published by the Chinese Academy of Arts)
“Friends of Ink” Spring 2005 (Japan)
SinoVision News (November 14, 2009)
“The China Press” (January 6, 2010)
“Collection of Fine Brushwork of Contemporary Chinese Calligraphers and Painters” (edited by the China National Academy of Painting Exchange Center)
“Master of the Generation” (published by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing House)
“Figures of the Asian Calligraphy and Painting World” (published by the Contemporary China Publishing House in Hong Kong)
“21st Century Asian Calligraphy and Painting Art Expo”
Career Summary
1995: Worked at the Xingping Aircraft Wheel Company in Shaanxi Province.
1997: Left the company to engage in art education, and formally took refuge at Da Ci’en Temple in Xi’an, China, becoming a lay Buddhist.
1998: Appointed as a Chinese painter at the Shaanxi Province Painting and Calligraphy Training Institute.
2000: Moved to Shenzhen and founded the Peng-Gu Art Studio, marking the start of his professional artist career.
2001: Appointed as a board member of the Yan’an Chinese Painting Institute and as an external artist at the Shaanxi Art Museum.
September 2003: Invited by the Japan-China Cultural Association to participate in the Japan-China Cultural Art Exchange Exhibition.
2004: Appointed as a painter at the Inner Mongolia Painting and Calligraphy Research Institute.
July 2005: Moved to Hong Kong and served as the Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Zen Art Academy (HK).
October 2005: Attended the “China Soul – National Day Fellowship of National Painting and Calligraphy Masters” at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In the same month, his work “Yellow River” was selected for the Sino-American San Francisco Chinese Painting International Exhibition, where he won the International Honor Gold Award and the title of “International Outstanding Painting Artist.”
January 2008: Attended the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and was awarded the “Outstanding Talent Award for Promoting Traditional Culture” by the National Project for the Promotion of Traditional Culture. In August of the same year, he was honored with the title of “Master of the Generation” by the China Cultural Information Association and China Cultural United Publishing Company.
October 2009: Invited by a New York gallery to hold the “First Exhibition of the China Zen Art Academy in New York,” expanding Chinese ink art overseas.
2010: Served as Director of International Exchange at the China Zen Art Academy (HK).
December 2012: Appointed as President of the World Zen Art Center (US), leading research on Zen painting and calligraphy.
2013: Took refuge at the Cihang Jingshe in New York, studying Buddhism under Elder Miao-Feng. In October of the same year, he accompanied Elder Miao-Feng on a Buddhist delegation visiting sacred sites in China, including Lingyin Temple and Mount Putuo.
April 2014: Founded and taught a Zen painting course at Golden Eagle Academy in New York.
September 2015: Invited to participate in the New York Multinational Cultural Art Festival, performing ink painting, and attended the relocation ceremony of the China Institute in America, performing Zen ink painting.
December 2016: Traveled through the rural areas of Shenzhen, Fuzhou, Xi’an, and Chengdu, China, gathering inspiration and meeting friends.
August 2017: Traveled through fifteen states in the US and Canada, including Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nevada, Toronto, and Quebec.
2018: Engaged in Zen practice and created ink landscapes with a clear and transcendent style.
March 2021: Appointed as the first Zen Hall Supervisor at the American Tianfo Temple by the International Zen Buddhist Association in the US, responsible for leading the temple’s activities.
December 2022: Experienced a profound awakening and formally entered monastic life at the American Tianfo Temple, receiving the novice name Yi-Yun. He practices Zen and Pure Land together, comprehending the natural way, realizing emptiness, constantly reciting Amitabha, and attaining liberation through wisdom.
September 2023: Began studying the Pure Land tradition under Master Tianpei in New York.
June 30, 2024: Appointed as the founding abbot of the American Ci Bei Temple, promoting the Dharma, benefiting society, and guiding the community.
Mission of Master Hong Yun
Venerable Master Hong Yun embodies the Zen lineage, practicing Zen and Pure Land together. He follows the natural way, realizes emptiness, recites Amitabha continually, and attains liberation through wisdom. With unwavering dedication, he upholds compassionate teachings, spreads the Dharma, and brings benefits to all sentient beings. His guiding motto after ordination is: “Transcend ignorance, uphold the righteous Dharma, inspire society, and liberate all beings.”
Hong Yun’s Verse
“Life is impermanent, filled with sorrow and joy, yet the Buddha’s mind remains ever-bright and liberating; Zen practice reveals the nature of all things, unveiling inherent emptiness and the wisdom of the other shore.”
Professional Expertise
Master Hong Yun excels in ink landscape painting, Zen painting and calligraphy, Qimen Dunjia divination, and Feng Shui consultations. He conducts blessing and memorial ceremonies, assisting devotees in avoiding misfortune and attracting blessings. Cherished and supported by followers in New York, he is committed to promoting the Dharma, benefiting society, and advancing the international development of Eastern Zen painting and calligraphy. His sermons provide profound spiritual guidance to New York’s Buddhist community, aligning with his mission to establish and foster an enduring appreciation for Zen Tao Art worldwide for generations to come.
Ink paintings by Venerable Zen Master Hong Yun（Yi-Xiong Gu）:
泓雲法師介紹
釋上雲，法名慈古、印証，戒名一雲，法號泓雲、泓空。以號行於世。國際知名禪林畫師。美國慈悲寺開山住持，紐約奇門風水研究院首席預測師。俗名古一雄，字龗子。曾用名楊鵬古、楊昆嶺、楊昆翰，別號古藝雄、沙門半僧、天庭古龗，齋名龗淼精舍。1971年生於中國彬州，畢業於西安聯合大學師範學院藝術系。自幼喜研禪道玄學，擅長書畫墨道。參禪行藝數十載，自成一家。歷任HK中國禪林畫院副院長，世界禪藝術研究院院長，美國天佛寺禪堂堂主。
藝術展覽和榮譽
2001年1月：山水作品入選首屆“走進西部”中國書畫邀請展並獲金獎（中國延安國畫院）。
2003年9月：作品《黃河夜嘯》入選第六回日中水墨畫研究交流展（日本東京）；同月作品《壺口巨流》入選日中文化交流展（日本名古屋）。
2004年8月：作品《嶺南幽居》入選第七屆內蒙古昭君文化節書畫展並獲金獎（中國內蒙古美術館）。
2005年10月：作品《黃河》入選中美舊金山中國書畫國際大展，並獲國際榮譽金獎和中美“國際傑出書畫藝術家”稱號（美國舊金山）。
2008年1月：赴北京人民大會堂，獲頒“全國促進傳統文化發展工程傑出人才獎”。同年8月，獲中國文化名家協會、中國文化信息協會、中國文聯出版社授予“一代名師”稱號。
2009年11月：作品《黃土高坡》入選《中國禪林畫院紐約首次展》（美國紐約）。
2014年9月：水墨作品《詠經》參加紐約多元文化節藝術展覽（美國紐約）。
2015年10月：水墨山水參加紐約多元文化藝術節展覽並展演水墨畫（美國紐約）。
作品發表
《美術報》總827期；《收藏快報》總325期；《藝術評論》第39期（中國藝術研究院主辦）；《水墨之友》2005年春季刊（日本）；美國中文電視台新聞（2009年11月14日）；美國僑報（2010年1月6日）；《中國當代書畫家翰墨精品集》（中國國家畫院交流中心主編）；《一代名師》（中國文聯出版社出版）；《亞洲書畫界人物錄》（香港當代中國出版社出版）；《21世紀亞洲書畫藝術博覽》。
履歷紀要
1995年： 工作於陝西省興平航空機輪公司。
1997年： 離職下海從事美術培訓工作，並於中國西安大慈恩寺皈依。
1998年：被聘為陝西省書畫培訓學院國畫家。
2000年：移居深圳創辦鵬古書畫工作室，開始畫家職業生涯。
2001年：聘為中國延安國畫院理事、陝西省美術館外聘美術師。
2003年9月：應日本日中文化協會邀請赴日參加日中文化藝術交流展。
2004年：聘為內蒙古書畫研究院書畫家。
2005年：7月赴港出任中國禅林畫院(HK)副院長兼秘書長主持工作。10月赴北京人民大會堂出席中華魂-慶祝建國56周年全國書畫名家國慶聯誼會。同年的10月，作品《黃河》入選中美舊金山中國書畫國際大展，並獲得國際榮譽金獎和中美“國際傑出書畫藝術家”稱號。
2008年1月：赴北京人民大會堂，獲頒“全國促進傳統文化發展工程傑出人才獎”。同年8月，獲中國文化名家協會、中國文化信息協會、中國文聯出版社授予“一代名師”稱號。
2009年10月：應美國紐約畫廊邀請赴美舉辦《中國禅林畫院紐約首次展》，並向海外拓展中國水墨藝術。
2010年：兼任中國禅林畫院（HK）國際交流部部長。
2012年12月：出任世界禅藝術研究院（US）院長，並主持研究禅書畫工作。
2013年：於紐約慈航精舍皈依，授皈依師為妙峰長老，並親近妙峰長老學習佛法；同年10月隨妙峰長老美國佛教代表團參訪中國靈隱寺、普陀山等佛教聖地。
2014年4月：在紐約金鷹學院開設禪畫班，任主講師。
2015年9月：受邀出席紐約多國文化藝術節展演水墨畫（Multinational Cultural Festival of New York），並出席紐約華美協進社喬遷慶典展演禪水墨畫。
2016年12月：遊歷中國深圳、福州、西安、成都等地鄉村，采風會友。
2017年8月：遊歷美國東岸華盛頓、波士頓，西岸舊金山、洛杉磯、內華達州，以及加拿大多倫多、魁北克等北美十五個州。
2018年：參禅悟道，創作水墨山水，畫風清澈脫俗。
2021年3月：受美國國際禅宗佛教總會聘請，任美國天佛寺禅堂首任堂主，並負責主持工作。
2022年12月：於美國天佛寺出家，成為名字沙彌，戒名一雲。師承禅宗法脈，禅净共修，頓悟道法自然，了悟本空，恒念彌陀，般若解脱。
2023年9月：拜紐約天沛法師為師，學習净土法門。
2024年6月30日：任美國慈悲寺開山住持。世願弘法利世，度化一方。泓雲出家座右銘：“遠離無明，住持正法，驚世導俗，倒駕慈航。”
泓雲偈句
人事無常悲喜往來，佛心永駐光明解脱。
專業領域
泓雲法師擅長水墨山水、禅書畫、奇門遁甲占卜、奇門擇吉、法會祈福超度，並為信眾排憂解難、趨吉避凶。法師得到紐約信眾的支持和擁護，世願弘法利世，度化一方。並推動東方禅道書畫的國際發展和繁榮。
書畫作品欣賞：
Amitabha meaning.
Work in the middle of “Buddha” wrote like a monk in meditation.
World Zen Art Center 