Shi Hanke (1611-1659), courtesy name Zuxin, pseudonym Shengren, surname Han, given name Zongqi, was from Boluo, Guangdong. He was the eldest son of Han Rizuan, the last Minister of Rites in the Ming Dynasty. He was a famous poet monk during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Hanke’s excellent poetry and conduct earned him great respect from the people. Whenever he preached, there were always crowds of listeners, whether violent or dull, who were willing to listen to his teachings, and there was an endless stream of people who came to ask him to solve their problems. In addition to Ci’en Temple, he also successively held temples in seven ancient temples, including Puji Temple and Jinta Temple. Later, he was revered as the founder of Buddhism in the Liaoshen area, and there were inscriptions on the stone tablets in Ci’en Temple and Qianshan.
释函可(1611-1659)，字祖心，号剩人，俗姓韩，名宗騋，广东博罗人。他是明代最后一位礼部尚书韩日缵的长子。明清之际著名诗僧。函可极高的诗文和品行使他获得了百姓极大的崇敬。每当他讲法时，听者总是如云，无论是凶暴之徒，还是愚钝之辈都愿意聆听他的教诲，至于来请他排忧解难的更是络绎不绝。除了在慈恩寺外，他还相继在普济寺、金塔寺等七座古刹作过道场。后来，他被奉为辽沈地区佛教开山之祖，这在慈恩寺和千山都曾留有碑记。
释函可·《即事》
身死固足悲，身辱亦足耻。
与其辱以生，毋宁饥以死。
To Die Is Misery
Buddhist Monk Hanke
To die is misery;
To be insulted is shame.
I would rather starve to die
Than suffer insults to live.
