CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

— 327 —
them is meant to proclaim the supremacy of Buddhism over Brah-
manism and Taoism. The whole environment, comprising the
Twelve divine Buddhist Teachers, Shih-eul ta-l'ien-shi -f
~ ^ ^
ftp (1), and the 18 Lohans £| ^|, or Arhats, ranged around the vast
hall, is highly suggestive, and forms as it were a halo of glory
extolling Buddha and the Buddhist religion.
9 o
Inferior position of the Pearly Emperor in Buddhist temples.
The Pearly Emperor, Yuh-ti JL iff (2), is placed on the right side
of the altar, that is to say, he is assigned a position inferior to
Brahma, for the left-hand side, as is well known,
is the most
honourable place in the eyes of the Chinese. Buddhist monks have
borrowed from Taoists the supreme god of the latter, and heaping
insult upon their pious fraud, have assigned him the lowest position
hi their temples.
Another explanation, more in accord with history, holds that
the Pearly Emperor, Yuh-ti 31
i
n^» represents Ti-shi ^ |p, or
Indra. Indra, or Sakra, was a Vedic Nature god, and personified
the sky, atmospheric phenomena, thunder and rain (3). His emblem
was the Vajra, or thunderbolt (1). In Hindu mythology, he is the
Lord of the Trayaslrinsa. heavens, situated between the four peaks
of Mount Meru, the fabulous centre of the Buddhist universe. This
(1) The 12 divine Buddhist Teachers. Shih-eul tct-t'ien-shi -f- ZL ~k ^ Hip-
See Chinese Superstitions. Vol. VI. p. 124-133. Also Illustrations n° 21-32.
(2) The Pearly Emperor, Yuh-ti 35 #• The confusing here of the Pearly
Emperor with Indra is due to the rendering of both names in Chinese by the
same characters. Yuh-ti 35 ;
ifr, the supreme Taoist god, is generally desig-
nated by the expression Yuh-hwang 3? Jk- If this were adhered to, the
confusion would not have taken place.
(3) Monier Williams. Buddhism, p. 207. Indian Wisdom, p. 13. —
Johnston. Buddhist China, p. 186. — Chinese Superstitions. Vol. V. p. 566
(Indra, Hindu god of the atmosphere).
(4) Grimwedel identifies Vajrapani, the Buddhist thunderbolt-bearer,
The Gods of Northern Buddhism,
with Indra, the Hindu god of rain. Getty.
p. 48 (Vajrapani).