Budaiheshang Legend
01 · Historical Records
The Cloth-Bag Monk legend was conceived in the Five Dynasties shortly after his death and began to circulate from the Song; through the Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic and New China it developed and grew richer, becoming a household folk-literature gem. From the Song Chinese Buddhism took him as an incarnation of Maitreya and made Buddha images of him, worshipping him as Maitreya, which increased the influence of the legend and gave its content all kinds of marvellous colour. The legend first appears in Zanning's Song Lives of Eminent Monks of the first year of Duangong of the Song, volume 21, The Life of Qici of Fenghua County, Mingzhou of the Tang, recording that he slept in the snow without wetting his clothes, could show people good and ill fortune, was good at forecasting the weather and hinted that he was the incarnation of Maitreya.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Cloth-Bag Monk was a famous monk of the late Tang and Five Dynasties and a real historical figure. He grew up in Changting village of Fenghua, left home and entered nirvana at the Yuelin temple in Fenghua, once served as the head of the Yuelin manor in Qiu village of Fenghua, preached the Dharma at the Xuedou temple and was buried in the belly of Feng mountain in the Fenghua city area. The Jingde Record of the Passing On of the Lamp of the first year of Jingde, 1004, volume 27, The Life of the Cloth-Bag Monk, has further records of begging for money in the street, answering questions on Buddhist truth, composing verses to expound the Dharma, appearing after death and images of the four assemblies. The Nanzong Zhipan's Comprehensive Record of the Buddha's Successors, volume 42, further added the episodes of the children playing with the cloth bag, master and disciple bathing together, burial at Feng mountain and relics in the tomb. Afterwards the Zhejiang General Gazetteer, the Ningbo Prefectural Gazetteer, the Fenghua County Gazetteer, the Yuelin Temple Gazetteer and the Zhang family genealogy of Changting, Fengchuan record even more legends, such as turning wood in Fujian, the emperor granting a title, making friends with lay believers, helping the people transplant rice, delighting in wearing clogs, taking pleasure on the swing, the Buddha water of the great bridge, dividing his body to attend a banquet and turning sand into a pond in his bag. Oral legends exist widely in the Changting village, Jinping sub-district, Xikou town and Qiu village town where he lived, unceasing from generation to generation; according to a preliminary survey they number more than a hundred. Their main content covers six aspects: his origins, childhood anecdotes, leaving home and entering nirvana, relieving distress and aiding the needy, suppressing evil and praising good, and harmony between monks and laity. They circulate in such provinces of China as Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan and in such countries and regions abroad as Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, Europe and America.
Sleeping in the Snow Without Wetting His Clothes
One of the marvellous deeds of the Cloth-Bag Monk recorded in the Song Lives of Eminent Monks.
Children Playing with the Cloth Bag
An episode of the Cloth-Bag Monk legend recorded in the Comprehensive Record of the Buddha's Successors.
Helping the People Transplant Rice
One of the Cloth-Bag Monk legends recorded in the local gazetteers.
Leaving Home and Entering Nirvana at the Yuelin Temple
The temple and legendary relics of the Cloth-Bag Monk's leaving home and entering nirvana.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Cloth-Bag Monk legend circulates mainly in the area of Changting village, Jinping sub-district, Xikou town and Qiu village town in Fenghua, Zhejiang, and has spread to such provinces as Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan and to such countries and regions as Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, Europe and America.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The Cloth-Bag Monk legend has historical, literary and cultural value and is at present in an endangered state.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Zhang Jiaguo 05-2012
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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