Master Sheng Xu: A Brief Biography

About Master Sheng Xu

Master Sheng Xu, whose Dharma name is Mingsheng, is a member of the Zhuang ethnic group from Guangxi, born in 1986. He centers his practice on Pure Land Buddha recitation, and lives out the vow to “embody the Buddha’s great compassion and carry forward the Bodhisattva spirit” through his actions, guiding all beings toward rebirth in the Pure Land. He follows the Humanistic Buddhism vision championed by Master Taixu. He stays current, advocating Buddhism’s teachings on equality, compassion, and altruism, and drawing out its core peace values.

Since his election as the fourth president of the Maoming Buddhist Association in Guangdong in April 2018, Master Sheng Xu has prioritized strengthening the development of Buddhist culture, upheld the direction of adapting Buddhism to the Chinese context, and worked to make new contributions to serving the public, improving people’s lives, and building a harmonious society.

Master Sheng Xu's Journey

1999 — With all conditions in place, he took tonsure under the Venerable Master Renhuan, formally entering the monastic life. 2000 — He traveled to Guangdong to enroll at the Yunmen Buddhist Academy for further study. 2005 — He received full ordination from the Venerable Master Foyuan at Yunmen Temple. The next year, he received Dharma transmission from Master Foyuan, becoming the 14th-generation Dharma heir of the Yunmen lineage. 2007 — He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Yunmen Buddhist Academy in Guangdong, and currently serves as the abbot of Nanshan Temple in Huazhou, Guangdong. 2015–present — He serves as executive vice president of the Huazhou Buddhist Association in Guangdong, a provincial charity ambassador, and a deputy to the Huazhou Municipal People’s Congress. April 2018 — He was elected the fourth president of the Maoming Buddhist Association in Guangdong.