Biography
Chángxǐng's father died when he was young and he was educated by his mother's family. He tonsured (but did not actually have his hair shaved off) at the age of 12 at Fúchéng Temple 福成寺 in his hometown. The abbot of this temple under whom he tonsured, Zìchéng 自誠, sent Chángxǐng to the Provincial Normal University, where he graduated in 1912.
After graduating, he went to Shànghǎi and tested into Huáyán University 華嚴大學, where he was classamtes with Chísōng 持松. While there he dressed as a layman until Yuèxuá 月霞 convinced him to be more orthodox in his comportment. He returned to his hometown to have his hair cut, then he received full ordination at Lóngchāng Temple 隆昌寺 at Bǎohuá shān 寶華山.
Chángxǐng graduated from Huáyán University in the fall of 1916 and went to Tiānníng Temple 天寧寺 in Chángzhōu 常州 to practice Chán. The following year he went to the Guānzōng Research Society 觀宗研究社 at Guānzōng Temple 觀宗寺 in Níngbō 寧波. There he studied Tāintái 天台 thought under Dìxián 諦閑, and graduated in 1919. He began teaching at the Dharmadhatu Seminary 法界學院 at Xìngfú Temple 興福寺 in Chángrè 常熱.
1922, he became the headmaster at the newly established Anhuī Monastic School 安徽僧學校, which was located at Yíngjiāng Temple 迎江寺. Other teachers included Dùè 度厄, Huìtíng 蕙庭, and Juésān 覺三. His students included Tàicāng 太滄, Nántíng 南亭, and Ruìjīn 瑞今.
When the Anhuī Monastic School shut down in 1924, Chángxǐng was invited to come to Xiàmén 廈門 by Ruìjīn and Gǎungzhēn 廣箴. This was apparently the origin of the Minnan Buddhist Seminary 閩南佛學院. That summer, Chángxǐng received dharma transmission from Péiān 培安 at Guāngxiào Temple 光孝寺 in Tàixian 泰縣, Jiāngsū. In August of that he he participated in the World Buddhist Federation 世界佛教聯合會議 organized by Tàixū 太虛 on Lúshān 廬山.
The Minnnan Buddhist Seminary began accepting students in 1925. The principal, Huìquán 會泉 asked Chángxǐng to be vice-principal. Many of the 80-person first class of the Seminary had transferred along with Chángxǐng from the Yíngjiāng Monastic School.
Chángxǐng was instrumental in getting Tàixū to be abbot of Nán pǔtuó Temple 南普陀寺 in 1927.
Chángxǐng trained and received abhisheka in Shingon 真言 Esoteric Buddhism under Chísōng in Shànghǎi in 1928-1929.
In 90 he was invited by Táiyuán 台源 to serve as principal for the newly founded Bólín Studies Institute 柏林教理院. Chángxǐng and Tàixū collaborated to make the Institute a branch of the World Buddhist Studies Center 世界佛學苑.
Chángxǐng became abbot of Guāngxiào Temple in 1931, and held an ordination platform there starting on March 1, 1933. His three dharma heirs were Nántíng, Wěizōng 葦宗, and Tuōfán 脫煩.
Cahngxǐng became ill in the spring of 1936 and moved to Shànghǎi to convalesce. After he recovered, Yuányīng 圓瑛 pressed him to become head secretary of the Chinese Buddhist Association 中國佛家會. At the time there was a rivalry between two factions within that group, one associated with Yaúanyīng, the other associated with Tàixū. Chángxǐng tried to act as a mediator between the two in order to unite them. His illness reappeared, however, and he died in the winter of 1939.
Major Works:
Chángxǐng fǎshī jí 常惺法師集 (Collected Works of Dharma Master Chángxǐng) [1]
Dàshéng qǐxìn lùn jiǎngyào 大乘起信論講要 (Essential Discussions on the Mahāyāna Awakening of Faith)
Fóxué gàilùn 佛學概論 (Outline of Buddhism)
Xiánshǒu gàilùn 賢首概論 (Outline of Huáyán)
Yīnmíng yùzhènglǐ lùn yàojiě 因明入正理論要解 (Essential Explanation of the Nyāyapraveśa)
Yuánjué jīng jiǎngyì 圓覺經講義 (Lectures on the Meaning of the Sūtra of Perfect Awakening)
References:
Yú Língbō 于凌波, ed. Xiàndài fójiào rénwù cídiǎn 現代佛教人物辭典 (A Dictionary of Modern Buddhist Persons), 2 vols. (Taipei: Foguang, 2004), 1:954b-97b.