Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 233 Nine Lotus Guanyin Bodhisattva
Li Chengming was secretly happy to have another commanding officer position that could be passed on.

At the same time, he also heard from the emperor's words that it was very possible for the Li family to be restored to the title. The key was whether they could make contributions.

Therefore, he has decided in his heart that he must choose a capable son to inherit this position of commanding officer. Lest Li Guorui and Li Guochen become useless, the Li family's title of Marquis of Wuqing cannot be restored.

Zhu Youjian's purpose is also this. He has no ability to change the Ming Dynasty's title inheritance system for the time being, but he can compete with nobles who have made mistakes after being demoted. Let capable people stand out and strengthen the strength of the nobles.

If you still can't select capable talents, then you deserve to be demoted. There is no need to pay attention to them and let them fend for themselves.

At the same time, this can also drive some of the nobles out of the capital, allowing them to go overseas and become a barrier to the Ming Dynasty, instead of staying in the capital to be parasitic——

After all, the Li family are relatives. They have no one to rely on when they go abroad and can only rely on the emperor. Their local power would become an extension of the imperial power.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian should give preferential treatment to such relatives.

Thinking again that his original intention of driving away the Li family was because of his belief in Jiulian Bodhisattva, Zhu Youjian said to them again:
"The Yinghua Hall in the palace is dedicated to the Queen Mother's royal appearance. There are two bodhi trees in front of the hall, which were planted by the Queen Mother in the past. The seeds can be used as rosary beads."

"I will give you three rosary beads and build the Nine Lotus Temple in Dongningwei to worship the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva. The abbot will treat it as a knight. The temple spans ten square miles."

"If you believers of Jiulian Bodhisattva in the capital are willing to go, you can take them with you. If you can spread the faith effectively, you can serve as the abbot of the newly built Jiulian Temple."

This is to ask them to take away the Jiulian Bodhisattva believers in the capital to prevent fanatical believers from doing anything under the command of some Li family members.

Li Chengming was even more happy when he heard this, knowing that with the link of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, the relationship between the Li family and the royal family would be closer.

The relationship between relatives and the royal family usually becomes more and more distant. As long as the emperor doesn't care about the kinship, he can reduce their titles——

For example, Emperor Jiajing had a large-scale denomination of his relatives, and the current emperor removed his title of Marquis of Wuqing regardless of Empress Dowager Li's relationship. This is the same reason.

But with the link of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, it is different. If the Li family can become the spokesperson of the royal family in Buddhism, they will always have contact with the royal family.

Therefore, Li Chengming made up his mind to bring as many Nine Lotus Bodhisattva believers as possible in the capital, and select a few powerful temples to spread the faith of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva.

He even thought of Zhang Tianshi's status in the past dynasties and tried to say to the emperor:
"There are two sutras printed in the 44th year of Wanli. One is "The Sutra of the Buddha Speaks of the Great Merciful and the Most Holy Nine Lotus Bodhisattva's Incarnation to Save the World." through"."

"The Queen Mother is not only the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva of Buddhism, but also the Nine Lotus Guanyin incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva. She is also the Nine Lotus Holy Saint of Taoism, also known as the Nine Lotus Virgin. She is enshrined in Mount Tai's Celestial Virgin Mary and is the same as Bixia Yuanjun."

Zhu Youjian was almost stunned when he heard this statement. He never expected that Emperor Wanli and Empress Dowager Li would do such a big thing. Not only did they regard Nine Lotus Bodhisattva as Guanyin Bodhisattva, they also made her equal to Bixia Yuanjun——

These two are famous goddesses in Buddhism and Taoism. If Nine Lotus Bodhisattva can replace them, they will become the top goddesses in Buddhism and Taoism at the same time.

But judging from the actual effect, the name of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva is far more widely spread than Nine Lotus Holy Saint and Nine Lotus Holy Mother.

This is because Buddhism was in urgent need of royal support after the decline of the Jiajing Dynasty, so it readily recognized the Nine Lotus Bodhisattvas.

But Taoism didn't pay much attention to it. Starting from Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, they worshiped Taoism most of the time. The Jiajing Dynasty was even more prosperous, and there was no need for the Nine Lotus Virgin to add luster.

In addition, Empress Dowager Li's various behaviors were obviously to worship Buddhism, so her name of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva was the most widely spread. The Nine-Lotus Holy Mother used in the beginning is not well known.

Considering that the image of a mixture of Buddhism and Taoism is not conducive to the spread of faith, Zhu Youjian thought about it and said:
"The Queen Mother is the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva of Buddhism and the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva."

"The Holy Nine Lotus and the Nine Lotus Holy Mother are the incarnations of the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva in Taoism."

"The newly built Jiulian Temple in the future will be built according to the Guanyin Temple, and the abbot and temple priests will be ordained and become monks." This made Li Chengming's face fall, knowing that the Li family's plan to become Zhang Tianshi was in vain. If a Buddhist abbot cannot marry and have children, how can he form a family?

Therefore, the Li family has no control over the affairs of Jiulian Temple.

Fortunately, the fact that Queen Mother Li was born into the Li family cannot be changed, and the relationship between the Li family and Buddhism can still be maintained.

In this case, we should strengthen our faith in Nine Lotus Bodhisattva. Li Chengming thought of the Guanyin temples in various places and said:
"The Queen Mother twice sent envoys to Mount Putuo to offer incense to the statue of Guanyin, and she also expanded Putuo Temple."

"Your Majesty, please use Putuo Mountain as the dojo of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva and regulate the Guanyin statues everywhere."

This was an attempt to use Nine Lotus Bodhisattva to absorb the faith of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Zhu Youjian felt that the matter was important and it would be bad if it aroused opposition from Buddhists, so he asked:
"Are there many monks in Putuo Temple?"

"Are they willing to become followers of Nine Lotus Bodhisattva?"

Hearing that something was going on, Li Chengming hurriedly said:

"There was originally Baotuo Guanyin Temple in Mount Putuo, but it remained unknown during this dynasty."

"It wasn't until the Queen Mother sent envoys to offer incense that the Dharma began to flourish."

"In the 33rd year of Wanli's reign, the Baotuo Guanyin Temple was expanded and the Putuo Zen Temple was granted the title of Protector of the Country and Longevity."

"The current Putuo Temple was expanded by the Queen Mother."

Well, temples are revitalized by others, so what ability do the monks in the temple have to object?
Somewhat envious of Guanyin Bodhisattva's influence among the people, Zhu Youjian said after thinking:
"Nine Lotus Bodhisattva is the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva and can be called Nine Lotus Guanyin Bodhisattva."

"According to the royal appearance enshrined in the Yinghua Hall in the palace, draw a portrait of the Nine Lotus Guanyin Bodhisattva and let it be enshrined in Guanyin temples everywhere."

"In the future, the statues of the newly built Guanyin temples will all be based on the Nine Lotus Guanyin Bodhisattva."

It is planned to integrate Jiulian Bodhisattva into Guanyin belief, or even replace Guanyin.

And considering that Guanyin Bodhisattva’s dojo is on the sea, and its duty of great mercy and compassion to rescue the suffering is also very suitable as the protector of the sea, Zhu Youjian added:
"The Nine Lotus Guanyin Bodhisattva will have temples all over the world. In addition to Mount Putuo on Zhoushan Island in the East China Sea, temples of the Nine Lotus Guanyin Bodhisattva will be built in the future on Ampurna Island in the South China Sea, Ceylon Island in the West Sea, and Beihai Island in the North Sea. As a Bodhisattva dojo.”

"This is where several islands are located. You should pay attention to it in the future."

He took out a map, pointed out Ambona Island, Ceylon Island, and the North Sea Island now known as Ezo Land in Japan, and asked the Li family to build temples.

Through religious beliefs, the Chinese who went overseas were united and gave them a spiritual sustenance.

　"Zi Zhong Zhi":
　　There are two bodhi trees in front of Yinghua Hall, the seeds of which can be used as rosary beads. The poet Zhang Shifan composed a verse, the preface of which is abbreviated as follows:

　　In the northwest corner of Da Nei, there is a Yinghua Hall. There are two bodhi trees in front of the hall. I heard that they were planted by the kind-hearted grandmother of the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva. Their leaves are like catalpa seeds. They are not obtained from flowers, but grow on the backs of the leaves. They are picked up and made into rosary beads. Compared with those grown in the south, they are unfortunately not very big. However, the color is yellow and the color of the dividing lines is slightly white, so it is named "Naduo", which is a treasure.

　　The Holy Mother of God is the guest of honor in the temple, and she is enshrined in the northeast annex of the tree. On the occasion of the New Year's Day, she pays homage in person. Every time I look up at the two trees, I feel like I am thinking of a cup. Because the Supreme Lord is called "Nine Lotus Bodhisattva", Yun Ou meditated on holding this bead and giving alms, and prepared a detailed description of it. The minister Zhang Shifan Jing wrote a short verse to eulogize the poem.

　　(The bodhi tree is not suitable for growing in the north. Modern research has shown that this bodhi tree is a lime tree, so the "bodhi seeds" it bears are different.

　　The image of the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva promotes the feminization of the image of Guanyin, and the image of Guanyin becomes more feminine)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)