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Religions
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1. Bodhisattva of Universal
Benevolence
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Material:
white jade
Introduction:
Bodhisattva of Ultimate Knowledge and
Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence are the right and left attendants of
Buddha Sakyamuni, who are the chief disciples of the Buddha. Each Buddha has
two chief disciples to assist him and carry forward the Buddha dharma, e.g.
Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta are the two attendants of Amitabha.
The practice of Bodhisattva of Universal
Benevolence represents the great mercy of Buddha. The syncretism
of wisdom and desire practice represents that the great wisdom and mercy of
Buddha have reached a perfection degree.
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2. Statue of Guan Yu
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This statue of Guan
Yu is the antique of Ming Dynasty, which has a history over 500 years. It
represents loyalty and righteousness. As is known to all, be righteous to
friends and loyal to the state are the basic principles for a person. Spirits
represented by Guan Yu deserves us to learn from. Moreover, a mysterious story
had happened to this statue of Guan Yu in this museum, that is, when this
museum held sitting ceremony for the statue, a wad of gold paper dedicated in
front of the statue of Guan Yu burnt itself for no reasons at all. The paper
had burnt for 3 hours from inside to outside, which is called as “發金gold irradiance” by the Buddhist. Everyone
thought it was the manifestation of Guan Yu. What a great miracle! Meanwhile,
there are many precious stones inlaid in the statue of Guan Yu for everyone to
appreciate carefully. But please remember that you shall appreciate it with
reverence. |
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3. Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra
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Material: ivory
1. How were
these small characters of Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra engraved in
ancient times?
A: These
characters were engraved with sharp eyes, steady hands and patience.
2. Was this article a sutra
of the temple or the ornament for the use of an emperor?
A: It
was a pencil vase for the use of an emperor.
3. What
does the Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra want to tell us?
A: Everyone
shall practice Buddhism.
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4. Maitreya Buddha
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Dated from: Qing Dynasty
Material: white marble
Maitreya Buddha always wears a smile
to handle things, thus we shall learn from his tolerance, leniency and jubilant
mindedness to tolerate all things including the unfavorable things. The mould
of Maitreya Buddha presents full-bodied Indian style. He will never pull a long
face no matter how hard the circumstance is. Common people are emotional and
sometimes sorrowful, but Maitreya Buddha always presents his coy smile. The
Maitreya Buddha in this museum belongs to Qing Dynasty of Chinese Mainland.
Problems about Maitreya Buddha:
What spirits does Maitreya Buddha stand
for?
A: Everyone shall be tolerable, lenient
and joyful.
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5. Pax Deorum
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Pax Deorum is fabricated by the
scripture written through gauze, gold, silver, line paper, paint and glue. It
is said that people who see the Pax Deorum can be restful, with everything
going well and without obstacles.
Problems about Pax Deorum
1. What
kind of the Pax Deorum in Lujhou City The
Forbidden City Museum?
A: It was used specially in the
imperial palace.
2. How many Pax Deorums are
there in total?
A: Not known in detail.
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6. Scriptures on Talipot Palm
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Characters recorded in the Scriptures
on Talipot Palm are Sanskrit, where, the book pages used are the Pattra Leaves
native to India and Nepal. According to legend, when someone collects the
Pattra Leaves, he can only pick up those falling to the ground but can’t chop
down the tree trunk, or else, the whole tree will die and never foliate, as you
can see, the loss outweighs the gain. Especially, when Scriptures on Talipot
Palm is kept for too long, the palm leaves will turn golden, that is the so
called “A Book Holds a House of Gold”, just because this, the Scriptures on
Talipot Palm is more precious and unusual than Pax Deorum of Chinese Foguang Mountain.
Moreover, besides sutras, talipot palm leaves are also used to record astronomy
calendar, medicine, literatures, laws and regulations, thus they have done a
great deed in culture inheritance. Furthermore, it’s really hard for this
Scriptures on Talipot Palm to be kept well since there were not too many the
Scriptures on Talipot Palm remained.
* The ancient people would kneel down once
they saw the Scriptures on Talipot Palm just as they saw the emperor, even at a
far distance, since once someone saw only a page of the Scriptures on Talipot
Palm, the evil creature will be reduced in half and his luck will turn better
no matter what sin he has.
Q. When did the earliest Scriptures on
Talipot Palm start?
A. It started from the pilgrimage of Xuanzang(Tang
Sanzang), an eminent monk of Tang Dynasty.
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7.吐蕃贊普-松贊干布金冠
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7.1st Century B.C., the Buddhism was introduced
into China and widely circulated. Consequently, the Buddhist temples spread
over the whole China.
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Source: Lujhou City The Forbidden City Museum
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