Xi'an Dacien Temple Square, holding tin staff Tang Monk statue of Xuanzang
Tang Monk Xuanzang
Learning and translating scriptures,
laboriously;
overcome all the disasters and practice Taoism,
only save all sentient beings.
When I was young, I read "Journey to the West". Tang Monk is an unpopular person. Although he is well-versed in his Taoism, he does not distinguish between true and false, and compromises everything. He is the delicious "Tang Monk meat" that all monsters want to get a piece of the pie. He is also the "foiler" who subdues demons everywhere and sacrifices his own life to protect his master.
Xuanzang statue and the story of the Buddhist scriptures. Only later did I gradually realize that the real monk Tang Xuanzang is not only not a foil for the Monkey King, but also a responsible, brave and tenacious figure comparable to the "national backbone" character of the "fire thief" in the Greek mythology in Prometheus .
Xuanzang statue and the gate of Dacien Temple
Travel to Xi'an, go to Dacien Temple to Big Wild Goose Pagoda , visit Guangming Hall, and read Xuanzang up close. It is still very attractive for the author who is already an elderly person.
View from the side of the Peony Garden
The big wild goose pagoda with a high appearance recognition is in the Dacien Temple. The angle between the underside of the eaves and the pagoda body seems to be different from the common pagodas, and the overall appearance is also thicker. It is said that it was built by Xuanzang imitating the Indian Goose Pagoda, with the front title "big", which means the Mahayana Buddhism he represents.
stills of "Journey to the West" (online picture)
may be more in line with historical facts Xuanzang's traveling west costume (online picture)
Because of a novel "Journey to the West" and various derivative literary works, Tang Dynasty monk "Tang Monk" is well-known in China, but to some extent, it also "alienated" the image of Xuanzang's monk.
Xuanzang's story of seeking scriptures, carving art works
was praised as "a life is only for one thing, a life is only for one thing, a life is done for one thing", Xuanzang went through hardships and took 17 years (19 years) and not only retrieved 657 scriptures, but also left a wonderful " Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty ".
In order to preserve the precious scriptures brought back (commonly known as " Baye Leaf Sutra ", that is, the scriptures written on the leaves of Betoro), Buddha statues and Buddha relics, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty ordered him to preside over the construction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the royal temple Dacien Temple, and opened the long-lasting translation and preaching until the last moment of his life.
In Chinese history, Xuanzang was not the first person to obtain Buddhist scriptures in the West. There were monk Faxian from , Eastern Jin , etc. Buddhism had been introduced to the Central Plains and even the Jiangnan region hundreds of years ago. The Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu wrote ", 480 temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many towers and towers are in the mist and rain" ("Jiushi of Jiangnan·Quadu"), but why was the only Xuanzang who obtained Buddhist scriptures so highly praised by the Chinese?
Da Ci'en Temple and Bell and Drum Tower
Walk into Daci'en Temple, climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and visit Guangming Hall and its surrounding halls. We can find the answer to why the Chinese people respect Xuanzang in particular.
Put down the 657 scriptures, Buddha statues and Buddha relics, and Xuanzang's efforts to translate dozens of scriptures are not expressed. Just talking about the "Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty" is extremely precious.
Tourists read the story of " Datang Western Regions" in the relief murals
"The Great Tang Western Regions Records" is abbreviated as " Western Regions Records ", a total of twelve volumes, written by Xuanzang, his disciple Bianji was compiled by the pen of the Emperor Taizong of Tang , and the content is Xuanzang The 417-year history of traveling to India and the Western Regions can be said to be filled with mountains and rivers, dark willows and flowers, and the story is full of ups and downs -
This is a high-quality documentary work that surpasses any previous scholar (Fa Xian also left a "Record of the Buddha Kingdom", but it is not as widely circulated and influential as "Record of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", and has become the main source of the story of the Tang monks and disciples suffering from 9981 difficulties in "Journey to the West".
0 The Talin and Buddha statues in the Great Ci'en Temple
In fact, for Xuanzang, an amazing translator, traveler, linguist and Buddhist master in Chinese history, Western scholars have long given him the chapter he deserves;
Former Indian Prime Minister Nehru respected him as one of the four great men in history.
From the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to look at the central axis of the scenic area of Dacien Temple, the "imperial capital" of the Tang Dynasty, the kingly style of Xi'an Ancient City, is still vaguely visible -
close-up shot of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the fence, on the wall, "People on the wall" The four words "The backbone of the clan" were written by Mr. Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association, calligrapher, and also a Buddhist layman. This is the highest praise for Xuanzang.
Looking at the Dacien Temple, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the cultural and creative works on the street
"The backbone of the nation" comes from Mr. Lu Xun's famous saying "Since ancient times, there have been... people who ask for the people and those who sacrifice themselves for the Dharma. This is the backbone of China."
In China, people who can be called the backbone of the nation have been found in all dynasties and generations, but they are still rare and valuable.
0 The unique and exquisite classical incense burner on the central axis of the Great Ci'en Temple is also a symbol of the atmosphere of the prosperous Tang Dynasty
History is not literature, the weak and despicable Tang monk in "Journey to the West" is not the Xuanzang who is tenacious and sacrificed his life to seek the Dharma in Chinese history, and the Tang monk has never been a foil for the Monkey King Sun Wukong . This is the truth of the story given to us by the Great Ci'en Temple and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
The edge of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is flat like a mirror, the nameplate and stone tablet
Entering history, reading Xuanzang again, he also lets us see a hidden "image" with practical significance -
Those who can truly represent "Buddhist" are not only not lying flat, but also fighting very hard;
Because, they not only have Buddha nature, but also society, culture, and the power of people and personality.
(Thank you for reading and sharing)
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