In contrast to what was portrayed in the "Journey to the West," Master Xuan Zang's journey was, in fact, long and lonely.

The "Heart Sutra" is written in ancient language and contains passages that are difficult for the average reader to understand.

This video examines four famous characters from the "Heart Sutra": "Se Ji Shi Kong."

The "Heart Sutra" encourages one to embrace and adapt to change.

The "Heart Sutra" helps impart a Buddhist world outlook and methodology.

The "Heart Sutra" gives you the tools to face the challenges that life brings.

Which emperor could possibly restrain the "Eastern Heretic," Huang Yaoshi and "Western Venom," Ouyang Feng, as well as a host of other strange-looking fellows from the same era?

Song Huizong was the Chinese emperor with the best taste of them all.

Song Huizong had greater ambitions with his self-created font, "Slender Gold."

Song Huizong assigned very challenging subjects to his painters.

Song Huizong had an uncanny way of making the invisible visible.

The complexity underlying the simplicity of Song Huizong's art is especially evident in the Ru porcelain of his time.

We may not be able to live as extravagantly as the emperors before us, but we can still afford to live life with a bit of elegance.

Hong Yi was a master painter, musician, dramatist, calligrapher, seal cutter, poet, and Buddhist monk. His calligraphy version of the "Xin Jing" is greatly beloved by all.

"Farewell" or "Songbie" was composed by Master Hong Yi. This song reflects the vicissitudes of Master Hong Yi's life. More importantly it talks about parting, something Master Hong Yi has experienced numerous times through out his days.

Master Hong Yi grew up in a wealthy and prosperous family. He had everything he could possibly need. Why would he ever want to leave?

In our lives we experience pain and sorrow, Master Hong Yi is no different. One of the most painful experiences he went through was loosing his mother.

When he was in Japan Master Hong Yi came in touch with Western art, which lead him to start his magazine. It was through magazines that he first heard of fasting.

Through fasting Master Hong Yi began to adjust his lifestyle and mindset to fit that of a monk. Afterwards he shaved his head and formally became a monk.

When Master Hong Yi left to become a monk everyone was shocked. Even his wife and kids didn't understand.

The transitions in Master Hong Yi's life happened naturally and are connected to his growth as an individual. Some wonder whether or not in his decision to become a monk he abandoned this world.

After becoming a monk Master Hong Yi deepened his study of Buddhism. The Buddhism value, love is compassion, became a part of his doctrine.

We are constantly saying goodbye to our friends, to our family, to our past selves. Master Hong Yi is no different. These goodbyes became an inspiration for his song, "Farewell".

This episodes is a continuation of our Art series! We will be talking about Chinese sculpture in the next few videos. Sculpture in China has a long history and even predates most Western sculpture.