CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

— 324 —
AETICLE XIV.
I.VDKA AM) BRAHMA IX BUDDHIST TEMPLES.
Yuh-ti 3£ ^ — Fan-wang ^ 3E (1).
Upon the principal altar of the monastery of "Fixed Wisdom",
Ting-hwei-sze 5j? 1§ ^p, and upon that of the Hai-yueh temple,
Hai-yueh-sze }f| ^J ^ (2),
at Jil-hao }$ jji,
in North Kiangsu yX
i$£, the visitor may see a group of personages, whom one would
little expect to find associated with each other.
In the centre of the group is Vairocana, P'i-lu-fuh jBj£ Jj§[ f$,
Buddha Supreme and Eternal (3). He wears the five-leaved crown
of a Bodhisattva, and is seated on a lotus-throne, the feet crossed
in Hindu fashion. On the left is the image of Mahakasyapa, and
on the right, that of Ananda, two of the principal disciples of
Sakyamuni.
On a lower platform of the altar, are the images
of the "Incense
and lotus-bearing Acolytes", Hsiang-shen and Ilwa-shen ^ jjji}) "|£jji$,
who attend
shen § ^,
on Buddha. The "Incense-bearing Acolyte", Hsiang-
is on the left, while the "Lotus-bearing One" Hwa-
shen jfe ijif , occupies the right. Still lower down are found the
(1) Buddhism, being an offshoot of Brahmanism, admitted into its
pantheon Hindu gods and goddesses, but regarded them as far inferior to
Buddha and Buddhist saints. Brahma and Indra were most popular divinities
in the early stage of the Hinayana. Later on, the}^ were relegated to a more
subordinate position, and became finally the attendants and servants of
Buddha. Hackmann enumerates both among the tutelary gods. Monier
Williams. Buddhism, p. 121, 221. — Johnston. Buddhist China, p. 60. —
Hackmann. Buddhism as a Religion, p. 213. — Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VI.
p. 89. note 1.
(2) Hai-yueh-sze #| ^ ^p. Literally the "Monastery of the moon rising
from the Sea".
(3)
VI. p. 119-123.
See on V T
airocana, P'i-lu-fuh #
Bit fiK
Chinese Superstitions. Vol.