Puxian's Elephant

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 10, 2015.)

A statue of Puxian and his elephant at Hongyuan Temple, Shiyan, Shenzhen

When visiting a Buddhist temple's main hall, you may notice a rather unusual creature.

The Thousand-Armed Guanyin

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on Monday, August 24, 2015.)

Statue of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin at tiny Linfeng Temple, Zhiti Shan, Fujian

Perhaps the most striking statue in many Buddhist temples is also one of the most common. It is the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, usually found with eleven heads.

Ji Gong, the Eccentric Monk

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 31, 2015.)

Ji Gong at Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

An amusing character seen in some temples is the Chan (Zen) master Ji Gong, also called Daoji. He wears a funny little hat with the character for "Buddha" on it, and monk's robes nearly in rags. His left hand holds a fan (for comfort--and magic), and in his right is a gourd containing wine. This may account for the seemingly-drunken smile on his face.

Luojia Shan and Guanyin's Leap

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 16, 2015.)

Luojia Shan as seen from Putuo Shan, with Guanyin's Leap in the foreground

Putuo Shan is an island lying off the coast of Zhejiang, accessible via Ningbo or Shanghai. It is considered one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, and is dedicated to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. (The others are Emei Shan for Puxian; Jiuhua Shan for Dizang; and Wutai Shan for Wenshu.)

Guanyin and Amitabha

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on January 25, 2016.)

Head of Guanyin with Amitabha in headdress, Longhua Temple, Shanghai

Iconography is a key aspect of the study of any religion. This is the symbolism used to represent key figures, and help us identify one from the other. In Buddhism, for example, where all Buddhas mostly look alike, only certain gestures (called mudras), or implements (like a pagoda or a lotus), distinguish one from another.

The Laughing Buddha

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 4, 2016.)

The Laughing Buddha at Zhiti Shan Huayan Temple, Ningde, Fuzhou

The next building we encounter in our temple walkthrough is called the "Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings." But these are not the first figures we encounter.

Dizang in the Bell Tower

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 18, 2016.)

Dizang with Ming Ranghe and Daoming at Gubaijingtai, Jiuhua Shan, Anhui

As we leave the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings, we see to our left the Drum Tower, which contains a statue of Guanyin, whom we have already met. To the right, balancing the Drum Tower, is The Bell Tower. It contains a prodigious Chinese bell which hangs over the head of a monkish figure called Dizang.

The Altar in the Main Hall

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 2, 2016.)

Left to right: Amitofo with a lotus; Shakyamuni flanked by Ananda and Kashyapa;
and the Medicine Buddha with a pagoda, at tiny Youmin Temple, Nanchang, Jiangxi

A temple's main hall may have various names. In most temples, the figure seated at the center of the altar will be the historic Buddha, Shakyamuni, so the hall is called the "Precious Hall of the Great Hero" (Daxiong Baodian). This is sometimes translated "Mahavira Hall" ("Mahavira" is Sanskrit for "Great Man" or "Hero"), but this can be confused with the proper name of one of the great leaders of the Jains, who lived in India around the same time as the Buddha.

Around the Main Hall

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 10, 2016.)

Kneelers and instruments in front of main altar, Hong Fa Temple, Shenzhen

In addition to the main altar, there are plenty of other things to see inside the main hall.

The Three Sages of the West

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on June 13, 2016.)

This ornate set of the Three Sages stands in a side hall at Linggu Temple, Nanjing

A temple visitor might encounter a set of three figures in its own hall outside of the main compound. These are the "Three Sages of the West," alternately called "Saints" instead of "Sages."

The Huayan Hall

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on June 27, 2016.)

Vairocana Buddha reflected in mirrors in the Huayan Hall at Dafo Temple, Shaoxing, Zhejiang

Some temples will have a Huayan Hall, especially temples with strong dedication to the Avatamsaka Sutra (called the Huayan in Chinese or the "Flower Garland" in English).

The Qielan Hall

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on July 4, 2016.)

Guanyu/Qielan in three forms, Nangshan Cishou Temple, Putian, Fujian

We have talked before of the popular Daoist figure Guanyu, who has his own temples (one is located in Shenzhen's Xin'an Old City). We mentioned there that Buddhists know him as "Qielan." Here's his story.

Lotus Lore

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on September 26, 2016.)

Lotus flowers at Longxing Temple, Zhengding (Shijiazhuang), Hebei

The lotus is preeminently the flower of Buddhism. I have spent hours gazing at lotus ponds in temples in Japan and China, and have come to love their symbolism.

Wenshu, Bodhisattva of Wisdom

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 10, 2017.)

Wenshu on a blue/green lion at Hongyuan Temple, Shiyan, Shenzhen

One of the "Big Four" Bodhisattvas (with Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion; Puxian, the Bodhisattva of Great Practice; and Dizang, the Bodhisattva of the Great Vow) is Wenshu, the Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom.

Guanyin and the Dragon King

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 22, 2017.)

Guanyin in the form of the Dragon King, Guangxiao Temple, Putian, Fujian

As one of the most popular of all Buddhist figures, Guanyin (Sanskrit Avalokiteshvara, Japanese Kannon) has been the subject of numerous folk tales.

Royal Ease

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on July 24, 2017.)

Guanyin in the Royal Ease posture, Longchang Temple, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

There is a posture found among some Buddhist figures that is commonly called "Royal Ease."

Eleven-Headed Guanyin

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on Sep 11, 2017.)

Guanyin with eleven heads and "1,000" arms at Dongshan Temple, Shenzhen

A bodhisattva is one whose being (sattva) is enlightened (bodhi). Astute readers may see that the consonants in bodhi--b, d, h--are shared by the word buddha, which means "one who is enlightened." But a bodhisattva differs from a buddha in that, although he or she has worked his/her way up to enlightenment, he/she has vowed to stop short of nirvana until all beings become enlightened. (Never mind that Mahayana followers believe that Buddhas are still available to help as well.)

Yama and the Ten Judges

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on Sep 25, 2017.)

Souls are purified before Yama, the
Fifth Judge, at Zhiyuan Temple, Jiuhua Shan

The popular bodhisattva Kshitigarbha (in Chinese, Dizang Pusa) has vowed to save all souls out of the Six Hells assigned to each of the Six Realms of Existence.

Guanyin's Many Forms

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on Oct 23, 2017.)

Some of Guanyin's many forms at Guangxiao Temple, Putian, Fujian

Several times in the past I have written of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion whose name means "The One Who Hears the Cries of the World." (This name is derived from the Sanskrit name Avalokiteshvara.)