Who Is His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III?

Chronological Timeline

Year	Event
At very young age	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III saved others without regard for His own safety and was honored with the title “Young Hero.” As He grew older, He used His innate Healing Vidya to treat the sick voluntarily. Every day more than five hundred patients sought His help, yet He never accepted one penny from them. As His activities to benefit living beings expanded, His life and work drew public attention. The Central Newsreels and Documentary Studio of China produced a documentary about His life entitled “One Who Is Dedicated to Advance Himself,” which was broadcast nationwide.
1987	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was appointed as Chairman of the Chinese Painting Research Association of the National Commission of China for UNESCO.
1992	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was honored with the title “Art Maestro of the East,”
1994	During the Fourth World Poets and Culture Congress held in Hungary, 5,612 experts and scholars unanimously voted to confer upon H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III the title “Preeminent Distinguished International Master,” a Head-of-State-level honor. The conferment certificate was signed by Juan Antonio Samaranch, the then President of the International Olympic Committee.
1995	When His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III went from Mainland China to visit Taiwan for the first time, Taiwanese people spontaneously gave His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III an overwhelmingly ceremonious welcome. More than 20,000 people went to the airport to greet and pay respect to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III. A motorcade of more than 1,700 cars followed the lead of police motorcycles to escort His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III from the airport to the hotel. That became the largest welcoming event in human history.
1995	His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III stayed in Taiwan, General Chiang Wei-kuo 蔣緯國, former Secretary-General of the Taiwan National Security Council, and many other high level government officials formally requested to become disciples of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III.
1999	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III came to the United States in 1999.
2000	Due to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s enormous contributions to humanity, the government of California and the San Francisco city-county government, on the same day, proclaimed March 8, 2000 as “Master Wan Ko Yee Day.”
2002	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was presented with the “Presidential Gold Medal” by the Commissioner to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans on behalf of President George W. Bush.
2003	The Organization of American States, composing of 34 countries including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, organized the Master Wan Ko Yee Yun Sculpture Exhibition in Washington D.C. at the Capitol of the United States. The Master Wan Ko Yee Yun Sculpture Exhibition was also held at the Congressional Office Building. That was the first time the U.S. Congress held an art exhibition in their Congressional Office Building. Visitors expressed their praises in the guest book, exclaiming that the exhibition was “unprecedented,” and that the artworks were “treasures brought to the human realm by God.”
2003	Auburn University presents the Certificate of Appreciation to Master Wan Ko Yee (H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III)
2004	In 2004, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was named “Fellow” of the Royal Academy of Arts in the U.K.. Professor Phillip King, President of the Royal Academicians of the Royal Academy of Arts, presented the certificate to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III at the British Embassy in Washington D.C., capital of the United States. The Cultural Attaché of the British Embassy personally attended the ceremony. Professor Phillip King stated that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was the first artist ever accorded this title in their renowned academy’s more than 200-year history.
2011	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award for International Service and Leadership.
2011	H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was awarded the 2010 World Peace Prize Top Honor Prize. The award was formally presented to Him at a ceremony held on June 14, 2011, in the United States Capitol.
2011	Mayor of Washington, D.C., Vincent Gray, proclaimed January 19th as “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Day.” The mayor called on D.C. residents to join him in saluting “His selfless and exceptional work to spread the word of peace to all those in His presence.” The Unites States Postal Service also issued a commemorative cover in celebration of “His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Day.”
2011	Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice Recognizing and Paying Tribute to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III
2012	As early as 2012, the United States Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 614, formally designating H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III with the honorific title “His Holiness” (H.H.). This designation recognized the highest and most revered spiritual status. Through this resolution, the United States Senate officially accorded H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III this distinguished honorific title.
2018	The World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leader Title Awarding Council jointly resolved that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was the Pope of Buddhism of this world and decided to present Him with the Pope of Buddhism Scepter.
2018	May 15th is the birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. That national flag was raised at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. specifically for the birthday of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The flag-raising document stated, “This flag was flown in honor of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, supreme leader of all Buddhism, on the occasion of his birthday.”
2021	At the Holy Miracles Temple, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III lifted the Supreme Holy Vajra Pestle that weighs 437.2 pounds, by using just four fingers to hook on to the Pestle, lifted it up, and held it for more than 13 seconds, surpassing His own base weight standard by 72 levels.

Introduction

Who Is H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III?

Throughout history, great Buddhist masters have inspired countless people through their wisdom, compassion, and dedication to benefiting others. Among Buddhist figures, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has attracted worldwide attention through His teachings, artistic accomplishments, humanitarian efforts, and the recognition He has received from respected Buddhist leaders, organizations, and people from many walks of life.

People searching for “Who is H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III?” often encounter a wide variety of information online. Some sources focus on His Buddhist teachings, while others highlight His achievements in art, medicine, calligraphy, sculpture, tea, and other traditional disciplines. There are also official proclamations, recognitions, and historical records documenting events associated with H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Because this information is spread across many different sources, it can be difficult for readers to gain a clear, well-organized understanding of His life, works, and contributions.

This page is intended to serve as a comprehensive introduction by bringing together information from official publications, historical records, public recognitions, and related resources. Rather than presenting isolated documents or individual news reports, it provides an overview of the major aspects of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s life and contributions, allowing readers to explore each topic in greater depth through dedicated articles.

Among the subjects covered are the Buddhist teachings associated with H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, His mastery of the traditional Five Vidyas, His accomplishments in fine arts and cultural preservation, His contributions to humanitarian causes, and the international recognitions and honors that have been publicly documented over the years. Readers will also find links to detailed articles that examine specific topics, including Tea Accomplishment, artistic achievements, published teachings, historical reports, and major public events.

Whether you are discovering H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for the first time or seeking a reliable overview of publicly available information, this page is designed to serve as a starting point. By organizing information into clearly structured sections, it aims to help readers better understand the historical background, documented accomplishments, and continuing influence associated with H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

As you continue reading, you will find an overview of His life, significant milestones, documented recognitions, and the many areas in which His work has been presented. Where appropriate, links are provided to supporting articles that explore individual topics in greater detail, making this page a central reference for learning more about H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

Biography of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is widely known in Buddhism as the third incarnation of the Primordial Buddha, Dorje Chang Buddha. In Buddhist teachings, Dorje Chang Buddha is regarded as the original founder of Buddhism and the highest spiritual leader in the universe, revered by many Buddhist traditions.

Buddhists belong to a religious belief that understands the universe’s nature of no-birth and no-annihilation and human beings’ original nature of true such-ness are one and the same. They believe in the cycle of transmigration driven by the law of cause and effect. They believe that after one’s biological death, the spirit or soul will incarnate and be reborn into a new being. In the case of the Primordial Buddha, He incarnated in this world for the third time as H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III did not seek publicity. He was awarded the Presidential Gold Award, the Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy Award for International Service and Leadership, and many other prestigious honors. Yet He did not attend the award ceremonies to receive them in person. He was well known for His loving-kindness and compassion, and He made a vow to only help others and never accept any offerings from anyone. However, His accomplishments and accolades are widely reported.

Before exploring the major accomplishments and recognitions associated with H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, it is helpful to understand the key events of His life and the historical background that shaped His work.

Life of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III came to this world to benefit living beings and devoted His life entirely to serving others with compassion and selflessness. Throughout His life, everything He did was solely for the purpose of benefiting living beings.

From a very young age, His Holiness displayed extraordinary compassion and courage. When He was young, He saved others without regard for His own safety and was honored with the title “Young Hero.” As He grew older, He used His innate Healing Vidya to treat the sick voluntarily. Every day more than five hundred patients sought His help, yet He never accepted one penny from them.

As His activities to benefit living beings expanded, His life and work drew public attention. The Central Newsreels and Documentary Studio of China produced a documentary about His life entitled “One Who Is Dedicated to Advance Himself,” which was broadcast nationwide.

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has also achieved remarkable accomplishments in many fields. In 1987, the young and highly respected H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was appointed as Chairman of the Chinese Painting Research Association of the National Commission of China for UNESCO. In 1992 He was honored with the title “Art Maestro of the East,” and in 1994, during the Fourth World Poets and Culture Congress held in Hungary, 5,612 experts and scholars unanimously voted to confer upon H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III the title “Preeminent Distinguished International Master,” a Head-of-State-level honor. The conferment certificate was signed by Juan Antonio Samaranch, the then President of the International Olympic Committee.

In 1995, when His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III went from Mainland China to visit Taiwan for the first time, Taiwanese people spontaneously gave His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III an overwhelmingly ceremonious welcome. More than 20,000 people went to the airport to greet and pay respect to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III. A motorcade of more than 1,700 cars followed the lead of police motorcycles to escort His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III from the airport to the hotel. That became the largest welcoming event in human history.

Within the short three weeks that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III stayed in Taiwan, General Chiang Wei-kuo 蔣緯國, former Secretary-General of the Taiwan National Security Council, and many other high level government officials formally requested to become disciples of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III. They expressed that they wanted to truly emulate the noble morality, humanistic ethics, thoughts, and deeds of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III.

After moving to the United States, the noble morality and extraordinary achievements of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III earned respect and recognition from people of many backgrounds. In 2000, due to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s enormous contributions to humanity, the government of California and the San Francisco city-county government proclaimed March 8, 2000 as “Master Wan Ko Yee Day.” In 2002, He was presented with the “Presidential Gold Medal” by the Commissioner to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans on behalf of President George W. Bush. He has also received numerous honors and recognitions from governmental institutions and international organizations.

In 2003, the Organization of American States, composing of 34 countries including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, organized the Master Wan Ko Yee Yun Sculpture Exhibition in Washington D.C. at the Capitol of the United States. The Master Wan Ko Yee Yun Sculpture Exhibition was also held at the Congressional Office Building. That was the first time the U.S. Congress held an art exhibition in their Congressional Office Building. Visitors expressed their praises in the guest book, exclaiming that the exhibition was “unprecedented,” and that the artworks were “treasures brought to the human realm by God.” In the same year, Auburn University presents the Certificate of Appreciation to Master Wan Ko Yee (H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III).

In 2004, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was named “Fellow” of the Royal Academy of Arts in the U.K.. Professor Phillip King, President of the Royal Academicians of the Royal Academy of Arts, presented the certificate to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III at the British Embassy in Washington D.C., capital of the United States. The Cultural Attaché of the British Embassy personally attended the ceremony. Professor Phillip King stated that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was the first artist ever accorded this title in their renowned academy’s more than 200-year history.

In 2011, the then Mayor of Washington, D.C., Vincent Gray, proclaimed January 19th as “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Day.” The mayor called on D.C. residents to join him in saluting “His selfless and exceptional work to spread the word of peace to all those in His presence.” The Unites States Postal Service also issued a commemorative cover in celebration of “His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Day.” In the same year, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was also presented with the “King Legacy Award for International Service & Leadership” by An International Salute to the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dozens of additional honors have also been bestowed upon His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III by U.S. senators, members of the House of Representatives, governors, and government bodies at all levels.

Even more remarkably, Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III was awarded the 2010 World Peace Prize Top Honor Prize. The award was formally presented to Him at a ceremony held on June 14, 2011, in the United States Capitol. Also in 2011, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice Recognizing and Paying Tribute to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

As early as 2012, the United States Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 614, formally designating H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III with the honorific title “His Holiness” (H.H.). This designation recognized the highest and most revered spiritual status. Through this resolution, the United States Senate officially accorded H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III this distinguished honorific title.

On several occasions marking the holy birthday of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III, commemorative ceremonies have also been held at the U.S. Capitol, during which the United States flag was flown in His honor. In addition, Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden have issued personal messages of congratulations.

In 2018, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leader Title Awarding Council jointly resolved that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was the Pope of Buddhism of this world and decided to present Him with the Pope of Buddhism Scepter. However, Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III respectfully declined the honor and returned the Scepter.

In September 2020, the World Peace Prize Awarding Council and the World Peace Prize Religious Leader Title Awarding Council adopted a joint resolution reaffirming their earlier decision. The resolution solemnly declared:

“The title, status, and authority of the Pope of Buddhism belong only to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III and cannot be exercised by anyone else. This is a permanent and unalterable determination!”

The two Councils also entrusted the World Buddhism Association Headquarters to present the Pope of Buddhism Scepter to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III on their behalf.

In 2021, at the Holy Miracles Temple, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III lifted the Supreme Holy Vajra Pestle that weighs 437.2 pounds, by using just four fingers to hook on to the Pestle, lifted it up, and held it for more than 13 seconds, surpassing His own base weight standard by 72 levels.

Throughout His life, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III dedicated Himself to teaching and benefiting living beings. He imparted more than two thousand Dharma Discourses, explaining the truths of cultivation and guiding practitioners toward wisdom and liberation.

Recognitions of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

Historically, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was the first Buddha to receive an unprecedented number of status-recognition and congratulatory letters from top-level great Dharma Kings and Rinpoches. More than 60 of the highest contemporary Dharma Kings and Regent Dharma Kings from various Buddhist traditions issued recognitions and corroborating recognitions acknowledging His status.

Artistic Accomplishments of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was an internationally renowned artist. His paintings were not limited by subject or themes and are of many types, from water-ink paintings to oil paintings.

Specifically, the subject matters include human figures, animals, flowers and birds, mountain and water scenes, fish, insects, and so on. Within the wide range of styles, there were fine brushwork, drawing with lines and strings, splash-ink, bold freehand brushwork, small freehand brushwork, and others. Altogether, He created 16 unique painting styles or schools, representing an unprecedented pioneering achievement in the history of art. His paintings remain on permanent exhibition at the International Art Museum of America in San Francisco, the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum in Los Angeles County, and other art museums.

The paintings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III are extremely valuable and rare. As early as in 2000, His artworks were sold for more than two million U.S. dollars each. He became the artist whose paintings commanded the highest prices compared to the prices for paintings created by all ancient and modern Chinese artists. Last March, an ink painting of His was sold at the New York Spring Auction for $16.5 million, which was the highest price realized at the 2015 Spring Auction of all artworks by ancient and modern artists worldwide. He was the world’s first inventor to create a class of artworks that cannot be duplicated by anyone or with any method — Yun Sculpture. Only after that, the world now has un-duplicable artworks. Experts believe that the value of His paintings will continue to increase.

His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha was a Fellow of Britain’s Royal Academy of Arts, making Him the first internationally distinguished artist to be appointed to a Fellowship in the Academy’s history of more than 200 years. The title of Fellow was awarded by the Academy’s President, Phillip King, at a ceremony in the British Embassy in Washington.

Mastery of the Five Vidyas

Buddhism classifies all material and spiritual matters and knowledge in the universe into five aspects. Complete mastery of these five aspects is called having realized the Five Vidyas (vidya is a Sanskrit word meaning brightness). Buddhas and Bodhisattvas must possess the Five Vidyas. The Five Vidyas include: the Vidya of Causality, the Vidya of Healing, the Vidya of Sound, the Vidya of Craftsmanship, and the Vidya of Inner Realization. Looking through the entire history of Buddhism, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III is the first holy one to perfectly manifest real accomplishments in the Five Vidyas, meeting the highest standard of Buddhism.

Read more about H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Accomplishments in the Five Vidyas

The Virtue and Holy Occurrences of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

The extraordinary virtue and holy occurrences of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, whose compassion and realization manifest through countless miraculous events witnessed by humans and non-humans alike—revealing the true Buddha-Dharma and inspiring faith and liberation. Below are some examples:

Great Perfection Rainbow State at the Vajra Throne

The True Holy Vajra Pill and My Buddha Master

Dragon-Fish Stand Upright to Pay Respect to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

A Wild Squirrel Offered Avocadoes to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

The Account of a Holy Incident

Hair Sariras

Explore more articles on the Virtue of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Holy Occurrences.

Conclusion

His accomplishments transcended the fields of religion, healing, art, philosophy, and literature. He devoted His time to a wide range of cultural, religious, and other endeavors aimed at helping people throughout the world. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III made the following vow: “I will bear all of the karmic offenses committed by living beings, and I will give everyone all of the good karma and merit that I plant.” His Holiness the Buddha carried out this vow exactly as stated.

Link: https://dharma-hhdorjechangbuddhaiii.org/who-is-his-holiness-dorje-chang-buddha-iii/

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(This article was prepared by the editorial team of Dharma From H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III website to provide an overview of His life, teachings, recognitions, artistic accomplishments, and contributions to Buddhism. Information is compiled from publicly available publications and referenced sources.)