Name Hong Choon Title Venerable Hong Choon | Died December 25, 1990 Successor Venerable Yan Pei | |
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Students Venerable Kwang Phing, Venerable Kwang Sheng, Venerable Kwang Chao | ||
Venerable Hong Choon (Chinese: 宏船法師; 1907–1990) was one of the most important Buddhist figures in the history of Buddhism in Singapore. He was the second president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation and the second abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
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Early life
Venerable Hong Choon was born in 1907 at Jinjiang, Fujian Province in China. 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.
Hong Choon reportedly also studied Feng Shui under Master Yen Ben in the 1950s.
Career
Venerable Hong Choon became the abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery 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.
Ven Hong Choon was also honored as a feng shui master.
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.
Demise
Ven Hong Choon died on 25 December 1990, after which a relic stupa and a memorial hall was built at the Phor Kark See Monastery commemorating him.