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In 1912, he went to Hangzhou and became a lecturer in the Zhejiang Secondary Normal College where he taught not only Western painting and music but also art history.

Li was hired by Jiang Qian in 1915 to teach at Nanjing Normal College (renamed in 1949 to Nanjing University), and taught painting and music. He also taught at Zhejiang Secondary Normal School and the predecessor of famous Hangzhou High School.

During these later years, Li’s reputation grew, as he became the first Chinese educator to use nude models in his painting classes, not to mention as the first teacher of Western music in China.

Li Shutong himself was also an accomplished composer and lyricist. Many of his compositions are still remembered and performed today.

In 1916, Li underwent a 21-day fast at a temple in Hangzhou, and experienced the benefit of a spiritual life. The following year, he took refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism. After spending another year there, Li began a new chapter in his life by choosing to be ordained as a monk, and thus began a holistic life dedicated to propagating Buddhism and its code of conduct.

After becoming a monk he only practiced calligraphy, developing a simple and unadorned, yet unique style, which everyone who received a sample of treasured. He became known to all as Master Hong Yi.