Throughout history, the influence of mothers has been an unwavering force in shaping cultures, values, and even the destinies of nations. In ancient China, the adage “when you drink water, think of its source” underscores the deep-seated respect for maternal origins and the pivotal role of mothers in shaping character. As we delve into the third installment of our series, we continue to uncover the profound legacies of exemplary mothers in Chinese history.
Saintly mother Li Meiying: Moving hearts with compassion
It is said that Li Meiying, the mother of Zen master Huineng, gave birth to Huineng at the age of 40. On the second day after Huineng’s birth, two senior monks visited their home early in the morning. They suggested: “Let’s name the child ‘Huineng’! ‘Hui’ means to benefit others with the Dharma, and ‘neng’ indicates the ability to perform Buddha’s work.” The scene of monks naming Huineng is clearly recorded in the Platform Sutra.
Li Meiying often took young Huineng to the temple to worship Buddha. She educated him to be sincere towards Buddhism, to have a compassionate heart towards others, and to cultivate patience and perseverance in his endeavors. At the age of 3, Huineng lost his father. His mother, overwhelmed with grief, turned gray-haired overnight. Huineng and his mother depended on each other. From the age of 10, he went to the mountains to collect firewood to support his mother, enduring hardship from a young age.
Illiterate Huineng, while selling firewood, heard monks at Jintai Temple reciting the Diamond Sutra and had a moment of enlightenment. He then determined to go to Huangmei in Guangzhou to meet the Fifth Patriarch, Hongren. At that time, the family couldn’t even afford travel expenses.
Huineng’s mother supported his decision to leave home to study Buddhism. Despite opposition from his uncle, Huineng, who was resolute in his decision, knelt at the village entrance and refused to rise. On the seventh day, lightning struck, splitting a large stone at the village entrance into two halves. Huineng’s unwavering determination moved Heaven and Earth, and his uncle had to agree to let him leave home to study Buddhism.
Working as a temple servant, Huineng’s potential was recognized by Master Hongren, who imparted Buddhist teachings to him and passed on his robe and bowl. Later, Huineng pioneered the Southern Chan tradition, preaching at Baolin Temple for 37 years. His disciples compiled his teachings into the Platform Sutra, China’s only indigenous Zen classic.
Meng Yang: Beyond blood ties with great love and virtue
According to Biographies of Exemplary Women, during the Zhou Dynasty, in the state of Wei, there was a compassionate mother named Meng Yang, the daughter of the Yang family. She became the second wife of Mang Mao. She bore three sons, while Mang Mao’s first wife had five sons. Her stepsons harbored hatred toward her and often spoke disrespectfully. Nevertheless, she treated them as her own and advised her biological sons not to quarrel with their stepbrothers.
Once, the third son from Mang Mao’s first marriage violated the law of the Wei King and was sentenced to death. The stepmother anxiously pleaded for his pardon day and night. When asked why, she said: “Their father married me to prevent them from becoming orphans. As a stepmother, can I be called’ kind’ if I don’t care for my stepchildren? If I only favor my own children and neglect the children of the former wife, can I be called ‘righteous’? Without kindness and righteousness, how can one stand in the world? Although they dislike me, how can I forget righteousness and neglect my duty as a mother?”
King Anli of Wei, deeply moved by her sense of righteousness, pardoned the third son of Mang Mao’s former wife, allowing him to return home. From then on, all five sons of Mang Mao’s former wife were deeply touched, calling their stepmother “mother of rebirth” and loving her from the bottom of their hearts. With harmony at home, all eight children of Mang Mao became talented individuals.
With her remarkable tolerance, Meng Yang transcended blood ties, acting as a mother not biologically but in spirit. Her great love softened her stepchildren’s and the world’s indifferent hearts by upholding the moral standards of kindness and righteousness. Since then, the word “stepmother” is no longer synonymous with cruelty, offering a valuable interpretation of human nature.
Compared to some irresponsible parents who merely give birth, but do not nurture, love is not confined to biological children; it is even nobler and worthier. It’s something for future generations to ponder, deserving a place among the greatest mothers in Chinese history.
Conclusion
Maternal love is the eternal spiritual pillar of humanity, as deep as the sea, as pervasive as sunlight, and as nourishing as rain. A mother’s care is the greatest force in the world. Through a mother’s selfless dedication and meticulous education, life continues, humanity thrives, and morality endures.
See Part 1 here and Part 2 here
Translated by Audrey Wang
