In Chinese Buddhist tradition, some figures become legends — monks whose lives blur the line between history and spiritual story. Master Xuyun (1840-1959) is among the most famous of these figures in modern Chinese history. His life spanned the late Qing Dynasty, the turbulent Republican era, and the early years of Communist rule.
Stories about Xuyun include accounts of spiritual insight, unusual experiences, and acts of compassion during times of crisis. One of the most well-known tells how a Buddhist ceremony he led in Xi’an coincided with the sudden end of a devastating plague.
To understand how this monk came to stand beside an empress fleeing her capital, we begin during one of the most dramatic moments in late Qing history.
Flight from the Forbidden City
Before dawn on August 15, 1900, a small caravan of horse-drawn carriages hurried out of Beijing and raced westward through the dim morning light.
At the front rode eunuchs on mules clearing the road. Behind them rattled four simple carriages. In two of them sat Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
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