The Daci Temple in Chengdu is also known as the “Temple of Infinite Compassion and Mercy.” It was one of the most renowned temples in the area of Sichuan, China during the Tang and Song dynasties. The Daci Temple is not only a renowned Buddhist temple in the city of Chengdu but also a hub of folk culture. Its architecture and the murals and carvings inside are all important cultural heritage of immense artistic value, making the temple Chengdu’s vital cultural base. Su Shi was born in Meishan, Sichuan province and held profound association with the temple. The first Buddhist monk that Su had come into contact with was Dharma Master Weijian (Baoyue) of the Daci Temple. Su had visited the temple in his earlier years, where he saw housed inside the temple murals by Tang artist Lu Leng-Jia and portraits of 75 people that included Emperor Xizong of Tang dynasty and civil and military officials. Su also left an inscription marking his visit. Furthermore, “Postscript to the Paintings of Pu Yung-Sheng” included in Su’s famous art critique, Journal on Painting Water, opened with a critique on Sun Zhi Wei’s painting of water inside the Daci Temple’s Shouning Hall (Hall of Serene Longevity). Su and Weijian kept in contact for over four decades and interacted frequently on issues of faith, culture, and art. Su was also invited by Weijian to write about the halls of the Daci Temple or to make a request at the imperial court on behalf of the temple for the bestowment of the prestigious purple robe and master title. A replica of the Orchid Pavilion was also lent out from Su for Weijian to make a stone-engraving replica. In memoriam of Su’s father, Su donated four bodhisattva portraits to Weijian. Weijian passed away in the Shaosheng era of the Northern Song dynasty (1094 to 1097). Su wrote a pagoda inscription in memory of the master, which conveyed the profound friendship between the two. This paper departs from the Daci Temple and its abbot, Weijian, examining the connection between Su Shi and the temple, including writings by Su where he expressed his thoughts and opinions, donations of artifacts he had made, Su’s art and cultural critiques, and also simply everyday cares and concerns that Su had expressed, which comes to show the important significance that the Daci Temple had on Su Shi’s life.
