Master Chiei and the Eight Principles of Yong: The Fusion of Calligraphy and Buddhism

A man who offered a thousand scrolls before Buddha—on the spiritual path of writing

Introduction: Calligraphy as a Path of the Heart

Grinding ink. Holding the brush. Sitting in front of paper.
Each of these actions is more than just a task—they are practices that center the mind and purify the spirit.

Master Chiei (智永), a Zen monk of ancient China, embodied this philosophy through his life and work. His calligraphy is not only technically masterful but also deeply spiritual—writing was, for him, a form of ascetic practice.

The Eight Principles of Yong (永字八法), which Chiei is said to have systematized, serve not only as foundational techniques of calligraphy but also as a method of mental attunement that resonates with Buddhist discipline.

In this article, we’ll explore Master Chiei’s life, the essence of the Eight Principles of Yong, and how they reflect the profound relationship between calligraphy and Buddhism.

Who Was Master Chiei? — A Buddhist Monk and Heir to a Calligraphic Legacy

A Descendant of Wang Xizhi

Master Chiei (dates unknown) was a high-ranking monk active from the Liang dynasty to the Sui dynasty in China. He is believed to be a seventh-generation descendant of the legendary calligrapher Wang Xizhi.

From an early age, Chiei was immersed in the calligraphic traditions of the Wang family. Eventually, he entered the Buddhist path and was ordained at Yongxing Temple in Zhejiang Province. He is famously known for offering a thousand scrolls of the Thousand Character Classic before the Buddha—an act that symbolizes how his writing was both a prayer and a form of spiritual training.

Thirty Years of Calligraphy in Seclusion

According to historical accounts, Chiei secluded himself in Yongxing Temple for 30 years without venturing outside. Every day, he wrote the Thousand Character Classic before the Buddha.

He reportedly wore out thousands of brushes, which he then buried in the temple grounds. Even today, the site is said to be marked by a “Brush Mound” (筆塚).

This story is not simply a record of his discipline but is remembered as a symbol of the idea that “calligraphy is a reflection of the heart.”

What Are the Eight Principles of Yong?

Eight Essential Brush Techniques in One Character

The Eight Principles of Yong refer to the eight fundamental brushstrokes embedded within the single character 永 (Yong, meaning “eternity”). This concept is widely used as a basic training method in calligraphy.

It is believed that the monk Zhishui during the Tang dynasty reorganized the earlier ideas of the Sui-era theorist Cai Yong and expressed them using the character 永, creating a structured and accessible teaching model.

By mastering the techniques within 永, one can apply them to all Chinese characters. To this day, it remains a cornerstone of calligraphy education.

Why Are Calligraphy and Buddhism So Closely Linked?

The Harmony Between Zen and Calligraphy

In both China and Japan, Zen monks emphasized “transmitting the mind through the brush” (以筆伝心), expressing enlightenment not through speech but through a single stroke.

• Teachings conveyed in silence
• Writing as a form of meditation, akin to Zazen

Calligraphy was not merely artistic expression—it was a path to attaining no-mind (無心) and selflessness (無我).

Calligraphy by Zen monks, known as Bokuseki (墨跡), is less about the characters and more about the “presence of the mind” captured on paper.

The “Way” in Both Buddhism and Calligraphy

In Buddhism, the term “Dō” (道) signifies the path of practice toward enlightenment, free from earthly desires.

Calligraphy, or Shodō (書道), is likewise a “path of the heart,” resonating with Buddhist ideals.

• Calligraphy is an act of practice (gyō), similar to sitting meditation
• Brush technique is a discipline (ritsu), an inner form of self-regulation
• The scent of ink, the whiteness of the paper, the sound of brush—tools to cultivate mindfulness in the present moment

The True Cursive Thousand Character Classic: Chiei’s Legacy

 A Textbook and a Prayer

Chiei’s magnum opus, the True Cursive Thousand Character Classic (真草千字文), showcases the Thousand Character Classic in both Square Style and Cursive Style. It became the ultimate textbook for beginners of the time.

The text itself is rich with themes such as cosmology, morality, self-cultivation, history, and religious philosophy—making it highly compatible with Buddhist values.

According to historical records, “The Thousand Character Classic is not just a calligraphy drill, but a scripture for spiritual refinement.”

The Eight Principles of Yong as a Buddhist Path?

Eight Principles and the Noble Eightfold Path

Buddhism outlines eight proper paths of practice, known as the Noble Eightfold Path:

• Right View
• Right Intention
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right Mindfulness
• Right Concentration

Interestingly, both the Eight Principles of Yong and the Noble Eightfold Path contain eight practices, suggesting a structural and philosophical alignment.

Through disciplined movement of the brush, the Eight Principles of Yong guide not only technical skill but also moment-to-moment awareness. They resonate deeply with the essence of Buddhist practice.

The Stillness and Motion Within Chiei’s Calligraphy

In Chiei’s writing, “motion exists within stillness,” and “tranquility is found within action.”

• Listening to the sound of grinding ink
• Holding one’s breath as the brush meets paper
• Pouring full awareness into each stroke

These are nothing less than forms of Zen practice.

His True Cursive Thousand Character Classic, which juxtaposes both Square Style and Cursive Style, symbolizes the harmony between structure and freedom, discipline and dynamism.

Conclusion: Writing as a Path Connecting Heart and Buddha

What Master Chiei pursued throughout his life was a path that connected heart and Buddha through writing.

The Eight Principles of Yong serve not only as technical foundations but also as a gateway to self-discipline and spiritual cultivation through calligraphy.

When you now take up a brush and face the character 永,
you may feel the breath and prayer of a Zen monk who lived 1,300 years ago in every stroke.