At about the same time as, or a little earlier than, Confucius, Buddhism was founded by Sakyamuni, who was originally a prince of a small state in North India, on the border of present-day Nepal. At that time India was divided into many states with different traditions and languages.

After seeing other people's sufferings and sorrows, he left his father's palace and began roaming alone, leading a very hard life, and thinking of the causes of man's sorrows, and the way to free man of all trouble. Finally, at 35, he attained enlightenment. After that he preached the truth he had found and gradually it was accepted by many people. He was regarded by his followers as the Buddha, meaning the awakend one.

Among his main teachings were the Four Noble Truths: (1)that sorrow is the universal experience of mankind; (2)that the cause of sorrow is desire; (3)that the removal of sorrow can only come from the removal of desire; and (4)that desire can be systematically abandoned by following the Noble Eightfold Path (eight steps that should be taken).

Buddhism was first introduced into China at the beginning of the Eastern Han. This had something to do with the opening of the Western Regions, which made travel between China and India easier than before. In AD 67, two Indian monks came to Luoyang. Emperor Ming Di ordered the building of the White Horse Temple and asked them to translate Buddhist scriptures into Chinese. They were followed by other monks from India and West Asia. At first, Buddhism was known only to members of the ruling class. It was during the period of the Southern and Northern dynasties that it was spread among the ordinary people. TOP

Buddha

Buddha is the one who is perfectly enlightened and has entered Nirvana. In Mahayana Buddhism, there are many Buddhas in existence at the same time. Sakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, is just one of a long line of Buddhas, with Maitreya still to come.

Maitreya

Maitreya is also known as the Laughing Buddha. Buddhism predicts that when Sakyamuni's doctrines were going to become extinct Maitreya would become a Buddha and preach Buddhist doctrines. for this reason, Maitreya Bodhisattva has been commonly respected in Chinese history, fake Maitreya came down from other worlds to provoke an uprising among the people. An example of this was Maitreyanism. The statue of the Laughing Monk in the Chinese temple is not the statue of Maitreya. Tradition has it that during the Five Dynasties from 907 to 960 AD, a monk named Qici always carried a cloth bag. People called him Cloth-bag Monk and regarded him as the reincarnation of Maitreya. Therefore, the statue made by people was used as Maitreya for offering. Some people believe that to offer the statue of the Cloth-bag Monk was possibly influenced by Maitreyanism. Because Maitreyanism originated in the home town of the cloth-bag monk on Fenghua, Zhejiang Province. It can be predicted that the image of the Cloth-bag Monk has become popular because of Maitreyanism.

Buddhism has it that Maitreya or "The Coming One" stands as a symbol to remind everyone that in every human heart there is the potential to be enlightened. This Buddha, on his way to Buddhahood, sends rays of love into the world of darkness.

Bodhisttva

Bodhisattva in Chinese usually referred to by the abbreviated name of pusa. A potential Buddha, or in Mahayana Buddhism which was much favoured in ancient China. Bodhisattva is one who has achieved perfect enlightenment and is entitled to enter directly into Nirvana, but who renounces this in order first to bring salvation to all suffering mankind. Such figures appear alone, or in pairs in support of a Buddha. Unlike the Buddha, who is always a simple figure without adornment, the Bodhisattvas are crowned and loaded with jewels. The best-known figures are Avalokitesvara(the Goddess of Mercy or Guanyin Pusa), Manjusri(Bodhisattva of Wisdom or Wenshu Pusa), Samantabhadra(Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence or Puxian Pusa), Kistigarbha(Dizang Pusa) and Mahastamaprapta. Before his enlightenment Sakyamuni the founder of Buddhism, is often referred to as "the Bodhisattva".

• Wenshu (Bodhisattva of Wisdom or Manjusri)
  Wenshu or Bodhisattva of Wisdom is also regarded as one of the four well-known Bodhisattvas in China's buddhism. It is said that Wutai Mountain in shanxi Province is the place where he performs the Buddhist rites. He is the left attendant of Sakyamuni who is in charge of wisdom. He has five hair buns on his head, with sword in his hand, symbolizing wisdom. He is often shown riding a lion representing wisdom, power and vigour.

• Puxian (Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence or Samantabhadra)
  Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence is regarded as one of the four well-known Bodhisattvas in China's buddhism. Legend has it that Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province is the place where he performs the Buddhist rites to save the souls of the dead. Puxian is the right attendant of Sakyamuni. He stands side by side with Wenshu (Manjusri). He is shown riding a white elephant.

• Dizang (Kistigarbha)
  Buddhism has it that after the death of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, and before the emergence of Maitreya, Dizang was the Bodhisattva that saved all the living creatures in Heaven and in Hell. China's Buddhism regards Dizang as one of the four well-known Bodhisattvas. Legend has it that Dizang gained enlightenment on Jiuhua Mountain, Anhui Province. Several decades of years later he entered Nirvana. It is said that his whole dead body was not decomposed and was entombed in a stupa. TOP

The Four World Heavenly Kings

The Indian Buddhism has it that there is a hill named Gandhara on the slope of Nount Sumeru. The Gandhara Hill has four peaks, and each of them is resided by one of the Kings. Each protected part of the world. The heaven inhabited by the Four Kings are named the Four World Heavenly Kings. In the temple of the interior provinces of China, there are the Guardians Kings of the Four Quarters, Guardians of the world and Buddhist faith. They are usually of fearsome aspect and armed. They stand at the entrance to a Buddha Hall. The Four Heavenly world Kings are as follows:

The Eastern World Heavenly Kings(Dhrtarastra) is named Chiguo and is sculptured in white color. He plays a pipa, a 4-stringed Chinese lute.

The Southern World Heavenly King(Virudhaka) is named Zengzhang. He is sculptured in blue color with a sword in his hand.

The Western World Heavenly King(Virupaksa) is named Guangmu. With a snake coiling his body, he is sculptured in red color.

The Northern World Heavenly King(Dhanada) is named Duowen in Chinese. He is sculptured in green color, with an umbrella in his right hand and a snow weasel in his hand.

Each of these Heavenly Kings has a follower and each has 91 sons who are in support of the Four World Heavenly Kings to protect the ten directions. It is said that each of the Four Kings also has eight famous generals who are responsible for their own mountains, rivers, forests and the baby deities of other areas. TOP

Arhats

Arhats, known in Chinese as Lohan, are people who have achieved Nirvana. They are usually depicted in grouping of 16, 18, or 500, and are based on real Indian holy men. They are frequently seen in paintings, or as statues in temples. The 500 arhats, numerous in number, enormous and powerful, are actually warmly received and worshipped by monks and ordinary people in some renowned Buddhist temples and monasteries. TOP

Mahayana and Hinayana

• Mahayana

  A branch of Buddhism, Mahayana was formed in about 1st century AD. It is known as the Greater Vehicle of Buddhism. It had a strong hold in ancient China. Mahayana believes that there exist a series of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and that salvation may be gained by invocation to them, so that entry into Paradise may be regarded as an immediate possibility. It asserts the unreality of the ego and of all other things. It aims at salvation for all creatures and it ferries them across the so-called life-and-death bridge to get to the other bank, where they are able to be conscious of the truth of Buddhism and become Bodhisattvas.

• Hinayana

  Buddhism has two major groups, Hinayana (Small or Lesser Vehicle) and Mahayana (Greater Vehicle).

  Hinayana is also known as the Lesser Vehicle doctrine of Buddhism. It is a branch of Buddhism that is much nearer to the original teaching of the Buddha than Mahayana. It developed mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, and Kampuchea. Hinayanist sought personal arhatship, and the destruction of body and mind and extinction in Nirvana. It lacked the broad universalism of their own doctrine. The emphasis of Hinayana is on the doctrine rather than on the worship of the Buddha.

  All the Buddhist groups that existed before the advent of Mahayana were known as Hinayana and Hinayana regards Sakyamuni as the only Buddha in the world. TOP

Buddhist Items

• Meditation

  Meditation is a technique of actualization in that it repeats the ceaseless beginning less relationship between Emptiness or "the Absolute" and phenomenal existence. It consists essentially of two parts: the mental phase "creation", starting from Emptiness, which corresponds to phenomenal existence, and "completion" or return to the unity of the "Absolute". Only the first phase is relatively easy to understand and perform, at least in the purely Tibetan system. The second comprises the the practice of psycho-physiological yoga, Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.

• Nirvana

  Nirvana is the state of perfect blessedness which is achieved by the extinction of individual existence and by the absorption of the soul into the supreme spirit, or by the extinction of all desires and passions. TOP

Buddhist Symbols

Lotus

• This flower represents awakening or enlightenment. In its closed position it only has potential. Fully opened it represents being fully awakened.

Swastika

• Swastika is an ancient cosmic or religious symbol, formed by a Greek cross with ends of the arms bent at right angles in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. In ancient times, the swastika was used as a charm to ward off evil and bring good luck. It was adopted by Nazi Germany and other Nazi fascists as a party emblem and the symbol of anti-Semitism in 1930s.
  
  
• The swastika was also regarded as the symbol of sun or fire. In 693 AD, the second year after Emperor Wu Zetian proclaimed herself the Sacred Emperor, the only female emperor in feudal China. She stupilated that the word should be read "wan" meaning longevity. Emperor Wu Zetian created the imperial ezamination to select personnel in order to govern people in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 AD).
  
  

• With the introduction of Buddhism into China, the symbol was also brought to China. The tourists will find it on the bellied of some Buddhist statues and latticed on screens and windows in complicated variations.