In terms of beliefs, the Han people are a very interesting nation. What is interesting here is that the system of ghosts and gods believed by the Han people is very developed, with hundreds of gods ranging from Jiutian to Jiuquan.

In terms of beliefs, the Han people are a very interesting nation.

What is interesting here is that the system of ghosts and gods believed by the Han people is very developed, with hundreds of gods ranging from Jiutian to Jiuquan.

Among the many gods, the most famous is Guanyin Bodhisattva . Whether in a city with dim lights or in a countryside with streets and traffic, temples of Guanyin Bodhisattva can be seen everywhere. Many faithful men and women are praying and worshiping inside, and the incense is lingering, which is very spectacular.

Guanyin Bodhisattva is not a god born and raised in our country. He came from distant India and was born into Buddhism. It must be said that it is a miracle that a "migrant" can win the admiration of so many people in China. Then the question arises, why do the Han people choose Guanyin Bodhisattva as their faith?

The answer must be found in the long history.

The time when Buddhism was introduced into our country has not yet been determined. However, historians generally regard the fact that Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty dreamed of the Golden Buddha and sent envoys to invite eminent monks as a sign that Buddhism was introduced into China. However, after Buddhism was introduced to China, it did not immediately become popular among the people. People at that time still liked to talk about Confucianism and Taoism. In order to spread, Buddhism even had to rely on metaphysics to spread. It was not until the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties that Buddhism became the norm.

The Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties was the most chaotic period in China, and the society was in turmoil.

On the one hand, ethnic conflicts are extremely fierce. In the struggles between the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Southern Dynasties and the separatist regimes of ethnic minorities in the north, there existed relatively serious ethnic oppression and discrimination, and the people suffered and their lives were in ruins.

On the other hand, the rule of the ruling class is becoming increasingly corrupt and has caused countless injustices. This includes both ordinary people who were imprisoned for violating government prohibitions, and officials and nobles who were implicated in strife within the ruling class. In the situation at that time, it is not an exaggeration to say that everyone is in danger.

In addition, during that period, God was often unfavorable, floods and droughts occurred frequently, and many people were displaced. Countless people left their homes in order to make a living. There are mourning everywhere, which is unbearable to look at.

For people at that time, they needed not only refuge in life, but also spiritual comfort. After all, if you want to survive, you must have enough confidence and courage. However, when everyone read the Confucian classics and Taoist classics at that time, they felt disappointed.

Confucianism is a worldly knowledge that emphasizes "cultivating one's moral character, regulating one's family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world." But the problem now is that life is at risk, and self-cultivation and family harmony are out of the question. The common people just want to have enough food, clothing and clothing to spend their days in peace. Those grand narratives are too far away from life.

Taoism emphasizes rebirth, abandons the social attributes of people, and advocates that people should enjoy happiness. But the Taoist method is to exhale the energy and transform it into immortality. For the poor people, this is a piece of pie that is beyond their reach. They can't even take care of their daily life. How can they have the time and conditions to refine the elixir?

Under such circumstances, Buddhist beliefs began to become popular among the people. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who saves the suffering and the distressed with great mercy and compassion quickly occupied the C position in the hearts of the people.

At that time, the spread of Guanyin belief mainly relied on two methods.

One, statue. The spread of Guanyin belief is to impress Chinese believers with the practical benefits of blessings. The "Taisho Tripitaka" records that because King Bosaichi painted 84,000 images of Fusha Buddha, he became Sakyamuni Buddha due to this merit alone. You can become a Buddha by making a statue of Buddha. This investment-output ratio is very cost-effective. Therefore, some Buddhists in later generations have repeatedly boasted about the benefits of making Buddha statues. After Buddhism flourished in China, many Buddhists began to frantically build statues in order to shorten the distance from Guanyin Bodhisattva, which caused the belief in Guanyin to spread rapidly in the Han Dynasty.

Second, classic. After the Han Dynasty , Buddhism began to be introduced into our country, and the classics also followed. At that time, in addition to the true classics, there were many apocrypha.Most of their authors are Chinese monks, and their contents are not the same as those of Indian Buddhist scriptures. Among them, there are many scriptures about Guanyin Bodhisattva. For example, " Gao Wang Guanyin Sutra ", "Avalokitesvara Ten Great Vows Sutra", "Avalokitesvara Samadhi Sutra", etc. The publication of these classics also promoted the widespread spread of Guanyin belief.

After Guanyin Bodhisattva entered China, it collided, integrated and communicated with our traditional culture, forming a unique Guanyin belief culture, which we are still affected by today.