"Venerable Da Li Won" sells for the deal of USD 2,207,912 (NTD 72,000,000)

Yi Yungao’s Painting (also known as Wan Ko Yee) Created Sky High Selling Price.

The Art Industry is Jealous About the Price.

Zhen Zang Art Auction Company auctioned the famous Chinese painter Yi Yungao's painting "The Venerable Da Li Won" and set a high price of 72 million Taiwanese dollars, which attracted great attention from the painting industry. But then some practitioners claimed that this was "religious art", so the price was raised. However, his disciples in Taiwan pointed out that the critics' mentality for favoring western countries was debatable.

A few days ago, after setting the highest auction price for this living Chinese painter, some media reported that Yi Yungao's (Wan Ko Yee’s) paintings could not be compared to Lang Shining's western-inspired Chinese paintings.

Yi Yungao's (Wan Ko Yee’s) disciples in Taiwan pointed out that such remarks made people feel sad. In terms of painting itself, Chinese painting may be inferior to western painting, but because of its five thousand years of history and culture, Chinese painting is far more expressive and connotative than western painting. Therefore, the value of Chinese paintings is also higher than western paintings.

A disciple pointed out that it was only because of the rapid development of the western economy in modern times that the current extremely unreasonable situation in which the prices of Chinese and western paintings have been greatly distorted is happening. Now, some Chinese painters have outstanding performances, but they have been criticized by some interested people: “How can Chinese painting be qualified to surpass western painting?”

He asked in return, why can't Chinese painting surpass western painting? He also pointed out that Yi Yungao's (Wan Ko Yee’s) paintings and calligraphy collections combine a variety of genres and techniques, blending his own styles into one. He has published "Master Yi Yungao's (Wan Ko Yee’s) Painting Collection" and various works, which are highly praised in mainland China and the United States.

Professor Gu Ruizhao from the National Defense Medical College, who has studied Yi Yungao’s (Wan Ko Yee’s) paintings in depth, also pointed out that Yi Yungao’s (Wan Ko Yee’s) paintings are for deep thinking. It is necessary to look at them carefully. Only by advancing our literary and philosophical foundations can we deeply understand the spirit and inner value of his paintings.

Yi Yungao (Wan Ko Yee) was the president of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Painting Studies. Other important people in the seminar included: Xie Zhiliu, Zhou Yingnan, Wu Zhangde, Qian Qunsao, Liang Shuming, Wan Laiming, Zang Kejia, and other artists.

The Commons Daily [Reporter Jongron Lin in Taipei]

Monday, Dec 11th 2000.

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The statement of Buddha's name "H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III"

On April 3, 2008, a solemn and dignified book-launching ceremony was held at the Library of Congress of the United States; on occasion of the first release of a fact-recording book entitled H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, jointly published by the World Buddhism Publishing LLC and the World Dharma Voice, Inc. At the same time, the book was formally accepted into the collection of the Library of Congress of the United States. From then on, people came to know that the widely respected Master Wan Ko Yee, the one who has been recognized and corroborated through official written documents issued by top leaders, regent dharma kings, and great rinpoches of major Buddhist sects throughout the world; actually, is the third incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha, the primordial Buddha. Ever since, people address the Buddha by the name Dorje Chang Buddha III. This is similar to the precedent regarding the name of Sakyamuni Buddha—before Sakyamuni Buddha attained Buddhahood, His name was Prince Siddhartha Gotama. Once Prince Siddhartha Gotama attained Buddhahood, He was thereafter addressed as “Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.”

On December 12, 2012, in the Senate Resolution No. 614 of the United States Congress, the title “His Holiness” was officially used with the name Dorje Chang Buddha III; the Buddha was addressed as “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.” Since then, the title H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was definitively affirmed.

“Dorje Chang Buddha III” is a statutory name; used in all official documents issued by the United States Government; such as passport, identity card, and social security documents. The previous name “Wan Ko Yee” is no longer valid, with no legal-binding effect, and no longer recognized by governments. “Dorje Chang Buddha III” is the only name in use.