Homage to Ganesha.
Homage to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
Here's evidence of the monk San Zhang:
Arhat - (multiple figures) (Himalayan Art)
"Hvashang, meaning a 'Chinese monk,' was allegedly an historic figure dispatched to India by a Tang Emperor to invite the buddha Shakyamuni to visit China. Since the Buddha had already passed away the invitation was then relayed to the 16 great arhats. Regarded as a monk he is also referred to as a patron because he presented the invitation. Neither of the common liturgies to the meditation practice of Shakyamuni Buddha and the 16 Arhats, popularized by the Lord Atisha and Kashmiri pandit Shakya Sribhadra, make reference to Hvashang. Therefore it is likely that he is an iconographic concept imported from China at a later time."
This thangka refers to Hvashang as the Tang priest mentioned in Journey to the West. The quote above attributes his presence in the art work as the "iconographic concept imported from China at a later time." This would date the art work as being originally conceived after the Tang Dynasty (618-690 CE).
His Chinese name is Xuanzang (also, Sanzang or San Tsang). The Sanzang Pagoda was built in 1944 in tribute to Xuanzang by the Machurian puppet government during Japanese occupation to house the remains of Sanzang, which were originally found in the Ruins of Glazed Pagoda at Grand Bao'en Temple in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province. Also stored at the temple, according to legend, is the complete Earth Buddha sutra, the Ksitigarbha Sutra.
Originally posted: September 29, 2003 8:21 PM
References:
San Zhang - Himalayan Art:
http://www.himalayanart.org/image.cfm/52.html
San Zhang profile - vbtutor:
http://www.vbtutor.net/xiyouji/ptangsanzhang.htm
Xuanzang - Wikipedia:
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuanzang
The Sanzang Pagoda - Oriental Architecture:
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/china/nanjing/sanzang.php
Ruins of the Glazed Pagoda - China.org:
http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43409.htm
Ksitigarbha in 3D - Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoXSfQL4n7I
Showing posts with label Journey to the West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journey to the West. Show all posts
20130304
Vairochana Buddha in Journey to the West
In the Journey to the West, Vairochana is mentioned in the third book, and is part of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Obviously then, Wu Cheng'en is illumining the Avatamsaka Sutra through the imagined exploits of the Monkey King - by a stretch. :)
Indeed, Buddha Vairochana is represents Pure Awareness, and helps the disciple to center her consciousness in this sphere of Reality.
in the Vajrayana text the Mahavairocana Tantra, Vairochana is an emanation of Adibuddha and represents the cosmic element of form (rupa). He is the primordial (transcendent) wisdom of the sphere of reality. His is in the center of the mandala consisting of the five Transcendental (Dhyani) Buddhas, and his rites pacify negative emotions. He is white and his two hands are held against the chest with his thumbs and forefingers touching. He radiates the light of Buddhahood and his consort is Akashadhateshvari, who is the sovereign lady of infinite space.
So the dance of light and the space for it to radiate through creates the united dance of Dharmadhatu (Emptiness, the realm of truth known as Buddha Nature). It is this dance that is represented by these unions and the sexual imagery depicted in Tantra.
Other names for Akashadhateshvari is Dhatvishvari or White Tara.
Indeed, Buddha Vairochana is represents Pure Awareness, and helps the disciple to center her consciousness in this sphere of Reality.
in the Vajrayana text the Mahavairocana Tantra, Vairochana is an emanation of Adibuddha and represents the cosmic element of form (rupa). He is the primordial (transcendent) wisdom of the sphere of reality. His is in the center of the mandala consisting of the five Transcendental (Dhyani) Buddhas, and his rites pacify negative emotions. He is white and his two hands are held against the chest with his thumbs and forefingers touching. He radiates the light of Buddhahood and his consort is Akashadhateshvari, who is the sovereign lady of infinite space.
So the dance of light and the space for it to radiate through creates the united dance of Dharmadhatu (Emptiness, the realm of truth known as Buddha Nature). It is this dance that is represented by these unions and the sexual imagery depicted in Tantra.
Other names for Akashadhateshvari is Dhatvishvari or White Tara.
20130303
The Story of Monkey King in Comic Format
Here is the Monkey King - in comic format. Wu Cheng-en wrote the original story, Journey to the West.
Finally Monkey Magic inspired me - the song Gandhara is the namesake of this blog. Another good site I recommend is the Wikipedia entry for Sun Wukong.
Journey to the West: http://www.damo-qigong.net/journey-to-west-part1.htm
Journey to the West on Youtube (episode 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp_Mt9Zfsqg
Monkey Magic the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2huJqFsFDE
Gandhara, the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrR-Y7gTZaA
Finally Monkey Magic inspired me - the song Gandhara is the namesake of this blog. Another good site I recommend is the Wikipedia entry for Sun Wukong.
Journey to the West: http://www.damo-qigong.net/journey-to-west-part1.htm
Journey to the West on Youtube (episode 1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp_Mt9Zfsqg
Monkey Magic the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2huJqFsFDE
Gandhara, the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrR-Y7gTZaA
20121211
Manjusri in Journey to the West
In the Journey to the West, The Vajrayana Bodhisattva Manjusri - Manjusri's lion caused havoc in Wuji to punish its king for dunking it (disguised as a Buddhist priest) in the moat. Tathagata Buddha did this to test the king's faith. Tathagata is another name for the Sakyamuni Buddha formerly known as Gotama.
More information on Manjusri Bodhisattva.
More information on Manjusri Bodhisattva.
20031014
Vairambha in the Journey to the West
Vairambha is mentioned in the Journey to the West. According to the following quote, it is a wind.
On the Perfection of Wisdom: "Mahakasyapa replied, "The five desires within the sphere of three realms are unable to move me. It is on account of the power of this bodhisattva's superknowledges manifesting as a consequence of his merit that I am caused to be in this state. It is not that I have any thoughts whereby I can't remain still."
This is just as with Mount Sumeru which when the four directions' winds arise cannot be shaken but which, when the Vairambha winds arise at the end of a great kalpa, is blown flat like a blade of dead grass. We can know from these cases that one of the two kinds of fetters has not yet been cut off. A bodhisattva of this sort should practice the prajna paramita. The Abhidharma explains the matter in this fashion."
However, in the Journey to the West, Vairambha is a hen spirit, mother to the Star Lord of the Mane, represented by the rooster spirit.
On the Perfection of Wisdom: "Mahakasyapa replied, "The five desires within the sphere of three realms are unable to move me. It is on account of the power of this bodhisattva's superknowledges manifesting as a consequence of his merit that I am caused to be in this state. It is not that I have any thoughts whereby I can't remain still."
This is just as with Mount Sumeru which when the four directions' winds arise cannot be shaken but which, when the Vairambha winds arise at the end of a great kalpa, is blown flat like a blade of dead grass. We can know from these cases that one of the two kinds of fetters has not yet been cut off. A bodhisattva of this sort should practice the prajna paramita. The Abhidharma explains the matter in this fashion."
However, in the Journey to the West, Vairambha is a hen spirit, mother to the Star Lord of the Mane, represented by the rooster spirit.
20031013
Zhang Boduan - a Taoist Master in Journey to the West
Zhang Boduan is a Taoist Master who is presented as an immortal in Journey to the West, of the Ziyang Temple. As one of the The Five Southern Patriarchs, he styled himself Ziyang or Immortal Ziyang.
References:
Wuzhen pian, a work by Zhang Ziyang: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuzhen_pian
References:
Wuzhen pian, a work by Zhang Ziyang: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuzhen_pian
20031008
Divine Offerings
Om devadhammoyam Priyasurasya - Divine offerings to the Highest Spirit.
Namo arahato buddhassamanam - Homage to Buddha, the essence of spiritual awakening.
Namo arahato dhammassamanam - Homage to the Dharma, the essence of spiritual duty to others.
Namo arahato sanghassamanam.- Homage to the Sangha, the essence of spiritual community.
Virupaksa is mentioned in Journey to the West as a guardian that the Monkey King meets when he is trying to discover a way to defeat the demon king of Mount Jindou.
Virupaksa is one of the Four Great Kings who guard the four directions of North, East, South and West. There is even a Heaven of the Four Great Kings in Indian Buddhist Mythology. These four Great Kings are also known as the Four Guardians of the Directions.
Namo arahato buddhassamanam - Homage to Buddha, the essence of spiritual awakening.
Namo arahato dhammassamanam - Homage to the Dharma, the essence of spiritual duty to others.
Namo arahato sanghassamanam.- Homage to the Sangha, the essence of spiritual community.
Virupaksa is mentioned in Journey to the West as a guardian that the Monkey King meets when he is trying to discover a way to defeat the demon king of Mount Jindou.
Virupaksa is one of the Four Great Kings who guard the four directions of North, East, South and West. There is even a Heaven of the Four Great Kings in Indian Buddhist Mythology. These four Great Kings are also known as the Four Guardians of the Directions.
20031006
Kunlun Mountains in Journey to the West
The Kunlun Mountain range are a famous range of mountains also mentioned in Journey to the West.
They were probably named after the mountains mentioned in Journey to the West due to one of the highest mountains in the world.
For the Kunlun Mountain of myth is where most of the Chinese god and goddess are supposed to live. It is also where important events in Chinese legends are said to occur.
They were probably named after the mountains mentioned in Journey to the West due to one of the highest mountains in the world.
For the Kunlun Mountain of myth is where most of the Chinese god and goddess are supposed to live. It is also where important events in Chinese legends are said to occur.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)