Zhidun

Zhidun (; 314-366 CE) was a Chinese Buddhist monk and philosopher. A Chinese author, scholar, and confidant of Chinese government officials in 350 CE, he claimed that all who followed Buddhism would, at the end of their life, enter Nirvana.

In his book, A Short History of Chinese Philosophy, Feng Youlan recounts a story from the Shishuo Xinyu regarding Zhidun's fondness for cranes:"Once a friend gave him two young [cranes]. When they grew up, Chih-tun was forced to clip their wings so that they would not fly away. When this was done, the cranes looked despondent, and Chih-tun too was depressed, and said: "Since they have wings that can reach the sky, how can they be content to be a pet of man?" Hence when their feathers had grown again, he let the cranes fly away."

References

Category:314 births
Category:366 deaths
Category:4th-century philosophers
Category:Chinese Buddhist scholars
Category:Jin dynasty (265–420) philosophers
Category:Jin dynasty (265–420) essayists
Category:Jin dynasty (265–420) Buddhist monks
Category:Philosophers from Henan
Category:Writers from Kaifeng