tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21784835.post8773117608332976955..comments2023-12-26T20:25:04.539-08:00Comments on Dragon Art of Asia - 2012 - Year of the DRAGON: Anryu-Ji templesGabi Grevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21784835.post-88328218769935170612012-09-23T00:11:10.697-07:002012-09-23T00:11:10.697-07:00Guan Yu (Wade-Giles spelling: Kuan Yu)
In Chinese...Guan Yu (Wade-Giles spelling: Kuan Yu)<br /><br />In Chinese Buddhism, Guan Yu is revered by most practicing Buddhists as Sangharama Bodhisattva (simplified Chinese: 伽蓝菩萨; traditional Chinese: 伽藍菩薩,; pinyin: Qíelán Púsà) a heavenly protector of the Buddhist dharma. Sangharama in Sanskrit means 'community garden' (sangha, community + arama, garden) and thus 'monastery'. The term Sangharama also refer to the dharmapala class of devas and spirits assigned to guard the Buddhist monastery, the dharma, and the faith itself. Over time and as an act of syncreticism, Guan Yu was seen as the representative guardian of the temple and the garden in which it stands. His statue traditionally is situated in the far left of the main altar, opposite his counterpart Skanda.<br /><br />According to Buddhist legends, in 592, Guan Yu manifested himself one night before Ch'an Master Zhiyi, the founder of the Tiantai school of Buddhism, along with a retinue of spiritual beings. Zhiyi was then in deep meditation on Yuquan Hill (玉泉山) when he was distracted by Guan Yu's presence. Guan Yu then requested the master to teach him about the dharma. After receiving Buddhist teachings from the master, Guan Yu took refuge in the triple gems and also requested the Five Precepts. Henceforth, it is said that Guan Yu made a vow to become a guardian of temples and the dharma. Legends also claim that Guan Yu assisted Zhiyi in the construction of the Yuquan Temple (玉泉寺), which still stands today.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guan_Yu#Worship_in_BuddhismGabi Greve - Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guan_Yu#Worship_in_Buddhismnoreply@blogger.com