Hong Choon

Venerable Hong Choon (Chinese: 宏船法師; 1907–1990) was the second president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation and the second abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.

Hong Choon
宏船法師
Title	Venerable Hong Choon
Personal
Born	1907
Died	25 December 1990
Religion	Buddhism
Occupation	Abbot
Senior posting
Based in	Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Predecessor	Venerable Zhuan Dao
Successor	Venerable Yan Pei
Students Venerable Kwang Phing, Venerable Kwang Sheng, Venerable Kwang Chao[1]

Early life

Venerable Hong Choon was born in 1907 at Jinjiang, Fujian Province in China.[2] He was ordained by Venerable Hui Quan at Cheng Tian Temple, China in 1922 and given his Dharma name of "Hong Choon". During the Sino-Japanese war, Venerable Hong Choon fled South with his master to seek refuge in Singapore.[3]

Hong Choon reportedly also studied Feng Shui under Master Yen Ben in the 1950s.[4]

Career

Venerable Hong Choon became the abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery[5] in 1943, administering the temple and representing it at social and buddhist functions over a period of more than four decades, propagating Buddhism in Singapore. During his leadership, the monastery transformed from two shrine halls into a monastic facility as large as ten football fields, now the largest venue of buddhist practice in Singapore. He also initiated the monthly Great Compassion Prayer and propagating the Dharma during his charge.

Ven 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. 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 a feng shui master.[6]

Singapore-China Relations

Towards his later years, Ven Hong Choon made eight visits to China between 1982 and 1990, during these pilgrimages which included visiting sacred Buddhist sites and officiating religious ceremonies, he met Chinese and Buddhist leaders and helped to restore the monasteries associated with his master Venerable Hui Quan.[7]

Demise

Ven Hong Choon died on 25 December 1990, after which a relic stupa[8] and a memorial hall[9] was built at the Phor Kark See Monastery commemorating him.

See also

• Venerable Zhuan Dao
• Lee Choon Seng
• Buddhism in Singapore
• List of Buddhist temples

Notes

1. "A Collection of Mandarin Buddhist Teachings By Venerable Guang Chao". 广巢法吟 - Guang Chao Fa Yin. Freshpick. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
2. http://www.art-of-fengshui.com/tribute_to_late_master_hong_choon.htm Tribute To Late Grandmaster Hong Choon
3. "Venerable Hong Choon". Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
4. "Feng Shui Grand Master - Venerable Hong Choon (Hong Chuan)". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2015-03-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. Feng Shui Tour of Singapore
7. Jack Meng-Tat Chia, "Buddhism in Singapore–China Relations: Venerable Hong Choon and His Visits, 1982–1990," The China Quarterly 196 (December 2008): 864-883.
8. "Relic Stupa of Ven Hong Choon". Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
9. "光明山普覺寺照片：Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 8 January 2015.

References

• Chia, Jack Meng-Tat. "Buddhism in Singapore–China Relations: Venerable Hong Choon and His Visits, 1982–1990." The China Quarterly 196 (December 2008): 864-883.
• Ho, Yi Kai. "Seck Hong Choon." In Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume I, edited by Leo Suryadinata, 947-949. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2012.
• Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery website