A Study Of Chinese Faith In Ksitiaarbha

In the early Sui Dynasty,with the translation of Ksitigarbha classics,he is famous for his great vow:"As long as the hells are not empty,I vow not to become a Buddha."It has been loved by the believers and ranks among the "four Bodhisattvas".This article studies the development of Ksitigarbha belief in Chinese Buddhism from the aspects of the background of its introduction,the process of its development in China and the main ways of belief.First of all,Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties to Sui Dynasty,Before the introduction of Ksitigarbha classics into China,China has experienced more than three hundred years of division,long-term wars and natural disasters,making people eager for redemption and seeking spiritual support.In this context,Ksitigarbha was gradually accepted by the believers,and also developed.In the process of integrating Ksitigarbha belief into Chinese traditional culture,the concept of filial piety culture and the post-mortem world as the main meeting point has achieved long-term development.During the Northern and Southern Dynasties,Ksitigarbha classics were introduced into China.The main Ksitigarbha classics including Dasa cakra ksitigarbha Chan-ch’a shan-o yeh-pao ching Ksitigarbha pranidhāna and Esoteric classics Ksitigarbha dharani,And,along with the development of Ksitigarbha belief in the rituals Tsan-li Ti-tsang pu-sa chap-hui fa-yüan fa Ksitigarbhah rituals,and annotations of Ksitigarbha classics by Chinese monks Ksitigarbha pranidhāna annotation and Chan-ch’a shan-o yeh-pao ching annotation.Secondly,the Silla monk Jin Qiaojue Jiuhua Mountain seeks the Buddha Dharma,In various legends,People gradually regard Jin Qiaojue as the incarnation of Ksitigarbha,JiuhuaMountainhas also become a Ksitigarbha bodhimandala.Ksitigarbha belief gradually integrated into the local folk life,It has not only attracted many domestic guests,but also promoted cultural exchanges between China and South Korea.Thirdly,The main ways of the Chinese Ksitigarbha belief are statues and funerals.The more popular the worship of Ksitigarbha,the more believers compete to carve the Ksitigarbha statues in order to fend and worship.The main Ksitigarbha grottoes in China are distributed in the northern region,Taking Longmen Grottoes,Nanxiangtang Mountain Grottoes,and Dafosi Grottoes as examples.Based on the classical ritual track,Ksitigarbha statues are mainly presented in the form of bonze,bodhisattva and Buddha.In addition,Under the influence of Ksitigarbha belief,the funeral rites of helping and transcending the dead are becoming more and more abundant,forming a funeral ceremony with Chinese characteristics.Finally,After the introduction of Ksitigarbha classics into China,they gradually became Chinese,took root in the soil of China,and spread to Japan and South Korea.