The Emperor's Affinity with Buddha

Author: Xiang Si
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The romantic Emperor Liang Wu of the Southern Dynasties, who gave up wine, meat, and women, offered himself to Tongshanshi Temple, and willingly became a servant of the Three Jewels; The proud Empress Wu Zetian, who knelt to welcome the monk Shenxiu and claimed to be the Bodhisattva Maitreya, styled herself the Golden Wheel Holy Emperor; The passionate Emperor Shunzhi, who firmly believed he was a monk in a past life and the reincarnation of the Golden Wheel King, styled himself the Mad Monk; The Kangxi Emperor, who claimed he was not born fond of immortals or Buddha, styled himself the Incarnation of the Boundless and Longevity Buddha and copied many exquisite copies of the Heart Sutra; The stern Yongzheng Emperor, who was diligent in governance, styled himself the Dust-Dispelling Resident and admired the tranquil mind that achieves great liberation; The passionate and talented Qianlong Emperor, who considered himself the Bodhisattva Manjusri, his favorite couplet being: "Nothing is beyond pasting over, there is naturally knowing each other"; The charming and ruthless Empress Dowager Cixi, who believed she was the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin and devoted her life to Buddhism.