Empty Cloud

Today is  Empty Cloud's (Xu-yun) birthday. He lived to be 119, and wrote a memoir about his life. I found the earlier parts best. He walked all around China, first to sacred mountains to honor his parents, and then to Tibet and over to Myanmar. At times he suffered quite a bit, but he was disciplined and led an interesting life, through a lot of interesting Chinese history. Later in life he traveled around a lot visiting monasteries to support them, and raise money for them. He was brutally beaten when the communist took over at the very end of his life, when he was over 100. He lived to be 119, which is a pretty amazing feat in itself. There's research that restricted calorie intake can extend your life, and I think he was partially starved in parts of his life in the early years.  

Ivory plaque with scenes of Buddha's life. China, Ming dynasty, 1368-1644.