One day in October 1942, Hongyi, the master monk who realized he was reaching the end of his life, wrote down his last words: beixin jiaoji (a mixture of sadness and relief).

He passed away three days later, at a nursing home in Quanzhou, Fujian province.

The four characters were written on a piece of used paper, about half the size of an A4 sheet.

Not only does it deliver Hongyi's message of farewell to the world, but it also is recognized as a stellar piece of calligraphy that the eminent monk has rightly been acclaimed for.