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da shi Fu

490 – 560

Chinese monk, Japanese patron deity of libraries

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About da shi Fu

Lived 490 – 560 (aged 69–70). da shi Fu was an inventor, buddhist monk, poet and monk.

Fu Dashi (Chinese: 傅大士; pinyin: Fù Dàshì, lit: "Mahāsattva Fu", 497 – 569) was a Chinese Buddhist layman who lived in Dongyang under the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In Chinese Buddhist tradition, he is popularly revered alongside Bodhidharma and Baozhi as the "Three Mahāsattvas of the Liang Dynasty" (Chinese: 梁代三大士; pinyin: Liángdài Sāndàshì).

In traditional Buddhist hagiographies of his life, Fu Dashi is recorded as having overseen the construction of Shuanglin Temple and compiling an early version of the Chinese Buddhist Canon. In the same Canon, he is credited as the author of the "Ode to the Diamond Sūtra" (Chinese: 金剛般若經來頌, pinyin: Jīngāng Bōrě Jīng Láisòng), a commentary on the Diamond Sūtra. In addition, he is often credited as the inventor of the Chinese revolving bookcases, or zhuanlunzang (Chinese: 轉輪藏; pinyin: Zhuànlún zàng) that are often found in the Zangjing Ge of Chinese Buddhist monasteries.

Fu Dashi also appears in certain Chan Buddhist gong'ans. One example is case 67 in the Blue Cliff Record, where Fu Dashi is recorded as having been invited to speak by Emperor Wu. According to this account, Fu Dashi stepped up to the lectern, struck it a blow with his staff, and then returned to his seat without speaking a word.

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Important facts

Born
490
Birth century
Died
560
Nationality
Southern Qi
Also known as
Fudaishi, Fu Xi, Shanhui dashi, Fu Dashi, Xuanfeng, Shuanglin dashi
moreDongyang dashi, Shanhui

People in da shi Fu's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped da shi Fu's

Frequently asked questions

Who was da shi Fu?

Chinese monk, Japanese patron deity of libraries

When was da shi Fu born?

da shi Fu was born in 490.

When did da shi Fu die?

da shi Fu died in 560.

What was da shi Fu's occupation?

da shi Fu was an inventor, buddhist monk, poet and monk.

What nationality was da shi Fu?

da shi Fu's recorded nationality: Southern Qi.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: da shi Fu

· Wikidata: Q1472362

· DBpedia: Fu Dashi

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). da shi Fu. https://biography.guide/da-shi-fu/

MLA: "da shi Fu." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/da-shi-fu/.

Chicago: "da shi Fu." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/da-shi-fu/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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