Li Zikuan

Li Jihong (1882-September 7, 1973), whose courtesy name was Zikuan and whose Dharma name was empty, was a Chinese politician. He was born in Yingcheng, Hubei Province He once participated in the Chinese Tongmenghui and was one of the founding fathers of the Chinese Kuomintang. He served as a citizen of Hubei Province. Congress delegates. He was a lay disciple of Master Taixu, a famous Buddhist layman, and played an important role in the Chinese Buddhist Association.

life
Li Zikuan was born in Hubei, a child of a scholarly family. His great-grandfather Ying Gong was a scholar-officials during the Daoguang period. His grandfather Li Guolin and his father Li Anwen were both talented people in the Qing Dynasty. Because his uncle Li Anbang had no children, he was adopted by his uncle when he was young. At the age of six, he was initiated by his biological father into reading the Four Books and Five Classics. When he was 13 years old, his biological father passed away, and he was taught eight-legged essay by his great-uncle Li Shifan. He became a scholar at the age of 21, and then he was admitted to study abroad at public expense. He went to Japan to study at the Hosei School, where he studied for three years and joined the Tongmenghui. After returning to China in 1905, he participated in the revolutionary movement in Hubei Province. In 1911, after the Wuchang Uprising, he served as counselor to the Governor's Office of the Hubei Army.

In 1912, the Republic of China was established, and Sun Wen gave way to Yuan Shikai. Li Zikuan went to Shanghai to welcome Sun Wen on his visit to Hubei Province and participated in the founding of the Chinese Kuomintang. In 1914, Li Zikuan went to Shanghai, served as editor of Maritime News Agency, and participated in the anti-Yuan movement.

In 1917, Sun Wen launched Constitutional Protection Movement and went to Guangzhou to organize the Generalissimo's Mansion. In 1918, Jiang Zuobin invited Zhang Taiyan and Master Taixu to give lectures in Shanghai. Li Zikuan went to attend and became interested in Buddhism. In the same year, Li Zikuan went to Guangzhou and served as the secretary of Xu Chongzhi in the Second Army.

In 1925, Sun Wen passed away. In July, the Republic of China was established in Guangzhou. Xu Chongzhi was appointed chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Government, and Li Zikuan was appointed director of the Guangdong Payroll Administration. In August, Liao Zhongkai was assassinated, and Li Zikuan succeeded him as director of the Finance Department of the Guangdong Provincial Government. Chiang Kai-shek used the name of "investigation" to oust Xu Chongzhi, and Xu Chongzhi went to the Shanghai Concession.

In 1926, when the National Revolutionary Army launched its Northern Expedition, Chiang Kai-shek appointed Jiang Zuobin as Hubei Provincial Envoy and Li Zikuan as Director of the Political Department. After the National Revolutionary Army captured Wuhan, Li Zikuan served as director of the Finance Department of the Hubei Provincial Government. In 1927, Li Zikuan served as director of the Finance Department of the Fujian Provincial Government. In 1928, Li Zikuan was recalled to Nanjing and served as director of the Finance Bureau of Nanjing Municipal Government.

In 1928, Li Zikuan was recalled to Nanjing and served as director of the Finance Bureau of Nanjing Municipal Government.

In 1929, Li Zikuan returned to the post of Director of Finance of Hubei Province. Master Taixu was giving lectures in Hankou at this time. Li Zikuan went to listen to the lectures every day and became a disciple of the Three Treasures. In addition, he was also elected as the president of the Hankou Buddhist Orthodox Association and assisted Master Taixu in rebuilding Wuchang Buddhist College.

In 1930, the Hubei Provincial Government was reorganized, and Li Zikuan served as Hubei Provincial Commissioner for Finance, Director of Hubei Transport and Anti-smuggling, and concurrently as Henan Provincial Commissioner for Finance and Director of Henan Salt Affairs. Master Taixu founded the Sino-Tibetan Theological Academy in Sichuan, with Li Zikuan as one of the directors.

In 1931, Li Zikuan was transferred to the Ministry of Finance of the Central Government to plan the abolition of Lijin. In 1932, he served as Secretary-General of China's Anti-Smoking Bureau and promoted the ban on opium.

In 1937, when Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, Li Zikuan went to Guangdong Province to serve as the anti-smoking commissioner. In 1938, the Nationalist Government moved the capital to Chongqing, and Li Zikuan subsequently came to Chongqing. The Nationalist Government appointed Zhangjia Living Buddha, Taixu, and Li Zikuan as executive directors to reorganize the Chinese Buddhist Association. In 1940, Li Zikuan served as deputy director of the Government Affairs Office of the Party and Government Work Assessment Committee of the Supreme Council of National Defense.

After the end of World War II, in 1946, the Nationalist Government returned its capital to Nanjing. Li Zikuan returned to Hubei and was elected as a representative of the Yingcheng County National Assembly.

In 1948, due to the civil Chinese Civil War, Li Zikuan went to Taiwan. Li Zikuan obtained the ownership of Shandao Temple in Taipei City and coordinated the departure of the public service units and the military that originally occupied the place. He hoped to use it as a base to continue Master Taixu's preaching career.

In 1949, Master Daxing, the first disciple of Master Taixu, was hired as the tutor of Shandao Temple. At the same time, the monthly "Hai Chaoyin" was resumed in Taiwan. After Master Daxing resigned due to poor health, he hired Master Nanting to succeed him.

In 1949, the government of the Republic of China moved to Taiwan. In July, due to disputes among Buddhist factions, someone reported that there were spies lurking in the Taiwan Buddhist Academy established by Master Cihang. More than 30 Buddhist monks who came to Taiwan from mainland China, including Cihang and Master Hsing Yun, were arrested. Li Zikuan went to the Guan Dynasty to preach, so that these monks could be released. In order to protect Buddhist monks, Li Zikuan reestablished the Chinese Buddhist Association in Taiwan after discussions with Bai Sheng, Master Dongchu and others. As the official representative, Lobsang Pelden Tenpe Dronme served as the chairman.

In 1952, Master Yinshun was hired as the abbot of Shandao Temple. However, due to factional disputes in Buddhism, he resigned after being attacked. In 1957, Master Yanpei was hired to succeed him.

In 1973, Li Zikuan died of illness in Taipei City.