Yi Jing, following Master Hsuan-chuang, is a Chinese Buddhist monk prominent in dharma and translation. He devoted himself in translating scriptures, teaching apprentices, and also concerned about the precepts, especially for daily manners broadly neglected by China, like filtering water before using it for drinking and cleaning. He appealed to monks for “well protecting this human body against leakage of afflicting emotions.” The author explores the thought of Master Yi-jing in three aspects: Silk bedding, Burning body as an offer to Buddha, and First turning the wheel of Maiytreya Buddha. Both silk bedding and burning the body as an offer to Buddha are related to the vinaya for Sangha. The claims and comments of Master Yi-jing did not get the support of Master Yuan Zhao because he thought Master Yi-jing, as a Sravaka, did not understand the spirit of Mahayana. As for the First turning the wheel of Maiytreya Buddha, Master Yi-jing, as a follower of Maitreya Buddha, hoped to receive the first teaching of the fifth Buddha in person and fulfill all the merits.
