Material Objects as Symbols

Material objects are often symbols in the practice of Buddhism

Some are connected with Buddhist ethics, others are with new social mores emerged with the adaptation of Buddhism in China

In Wuxi, China

Major materials objects imbued with symbolism:

Robesalms bowlsrosaryruyi-sceptor Bodhidharma, by L

iaoan Qingyu, Yuan Dynasty.

His robe symbolizes the transmission of Chan teachings

Robes and Bowls as SymbolsRobes and Bowls as Symbols

Transmission from thTransmission from the Fifth Patriarch to the Fifth Patriarch to the Six Patriarch feature Six Patriarch featured:ed: Dharma robeDharma robe Alms bowlAlms bowl Gatha Gatha (verse)(verse)

• Robes and alms Robes and alms bowls are full of bowls are full of symbolism:symbolism:

• Ascetic symbol-- Ascetic symbol-- renunciation of renunciation of wealth and comfort, wealth and comfort, living the life of living the life of mendicancy and mendicancy and austerityausterity• Doctrinal symbol--Doctrinal symbol--

Transmission of Transmission of the dharmathe dharma

Monk’s Robes in ChinaCalled Jiasha (S. Kasaya):

Monks wore robes in different colors in different regions, normally, black, pitch-black, grey-black

The three robes: inner robe, upper garment, and outer robe

• Comprised of strips and patches: patched-robe Materials for robes

• In India, robes were made of silk• Chinese monks used linen and cotton to make ro

bes

Purple robes conferred on monks Tang emperor began to

recognize the monk of distinction by conferring a purple robe on him

A worthy monk often received purple robes along with an honorary title

Some monks scrambled for lavish purple robes, showing their desire for prominence and prestige

Other material objects

Other material objects imbued with symbolism: one of the three jewels Rug: supposedly a

symbol of the holy dharma, but no longer common

Ring-staff: symbol of Ring-staff: symbol of the monk the monk Used in travel; Used in travel;

expressions such as expressions such as “picking up his ring-“picking up his ring-staff” signify that a staff” signify that a monk set off on a monk set off on a journey or settled in journey or settled in a far-off placea far-off place

Rosary: Rosary: used primarily as used primarily as

devotional object devotional object nowadays, at least in nowadays, at least in some circles (e.g., some circles (e.g., Pure Land society)Pure Land society)

Ring-staff, Tang Dynasty

Indian Origin of RosaryUsed by the Buddhist laity to gain merit by

chanting the name of the “three jewels”Used to keep track of recitations of

Spells The names of bodhisattvas The names of buddhas

Possess magical properties of its ownNumber of beads (108) represents number

of afflictions. Consecration or empowering of the beads increases its efficacy.

Ring-staff made of gold (Tang Dynasty), appeared in the 2007 Beijing Spirng Auction

The Alms Bowls

Carries symbolic association with the life of the peripatetic Buddhist ascetic

Substances: Earthenware Wood Ceramics silver Copper Gold

RosaryRosary

• substances of bsubstances of beads: eads: – iron, pearl, crystiron, pearl, cryst

al, seeds of bodhal, seeds of bodhi tree, wood, jadi tree, wood, jade….e….

Rosary in ChinaRosary in China

Pure Land monks championed the use of rosPure Land monks championed the use of rosaryaryDaozhuo (562-645) encouraged his followers to cDaozhuo (562-645) encouraged his followers to c

hant aloud the name of Amitabhahant aloud the name of AmitabhaUsed objects such as sesame seeds to keep track Used objects such as sesame seeds to keep track

of the number of recitationsof the number of recitationsRosary was widely used in Tang times and laRosary was widely used in Tang times and la

terterLaypeople used rosary to show their devotion to Laypeople used rosary to show their devotion to

Amitabha BuddhaAmitabha Buddha

Material Objects and MeritMerit accrues when one becomes generous

donor or engages in gift-givingMerit can be transferredMerit derives from the creation or making of

some material objects associated with Buddhism: Producing books Building monasteries Constructing bridges

Books and MeritProducing or reproducing books associated with Budd

hism helps one gain merit Copying or printing scriptures, dharani, treatises, tracts, mor

ality books…

Belief in the idea that merit comes from producing/reproducing books is among many influences that scriptures have exerted

This belief is evidenced by the frequent and sometimes massive production/reproduction of some Buddhist scriptures: The Diamond Sutra The Heart Sutra

Reproduction of Sutra through Copying

The copying of sutra was already a common practice in the 4th and 5th centuries Monks engaged in the copying of sutra Common people Emperor and members of imperial household

Copying became even more popular during the Tang: Government-sponsored copying Monastery-sponsored copying a good calligrapher would be hired as “copyist of sutra”,

which became a specialization in Tang times

Monastery-construction and Merit

While Buddhist clergy often questioned the validity of building large monasteries to gain merit, most monks took this business for granted.

Lay persons involved in the construction of the monasteries because of this belief: This is a form of constructing “field of merit”

(futian 福田 )

Massive construction of Buddhist monasteries occurred in the 5th century and later when Buddhism was under the protection of imperial patronage Transformed the lands

cape of China Enhanced the relations

hip between clerics and lay persons

Field of Merit

Monasteries in China Monasteries in China

Early monasteries came from the Early monasteries came from the conversion of private houses donated to conversion of private houses donated to the clergy by wealthy lay personsthe clergy by wealthy lay persons

Construction of new monasteries became Construction of new monasteries became common among lay personscommon among lay persons Monasteries built to provide merit for the Monasteries built to provide merit for the

deceased parentsdeceased parents Imperial households participated in the Imperial households participated in the

construction of monasteries:construction of monasteries: Emperors of the Tang dynastyEmperors of the Tang dynasty

Repairing or restoring monasteries yielded Repairing or restoring monasteries yielded merit toomerit too

Large monasteries have a gate called “Mountain Gate”

A main hall called “Buddha Hall”

Questioning Merit

Critics questioned the building of monasteries on these grounds: Lavish buildings of new monasteries were at

odds with Buddhist doctrines of austerity and emptiness

Money involved in the construction has little to do with the essence of enlightenment and the truth of emptiness

Monks and nuns were aloof from the lofty doctrine of Buddhism when they and patrons exchanged service and cash donations

Bridge, bridge-building, and MeritMonks played a

prominent role in building and maintaining bridges Motivated by the

pervasive Buddhist notion of religious merit in connection with bridge-building

Bridge-building is a “blessed work”, that would bring “blessings,” or merit, to those involved

Monastic institution supported bridge-building because it is extolled in Buddhist scriptures as a compassionate act and it improved the social standing of the monastery in the local community

Bridge-building was considered an act of kindness (bridge a metaphor for the compassion of bodhisattva, that deliver all beings to the other shore)

Monks were technical specialists in bridge-building and specialists in the art of soliciting funds some of them

built hundreds of bridges

Lay Buddhists and Bridge-building

Lay persons participated in bridge-building Common people, through donations to bri

dge construction, believe that bridge-building would improve one’s lot…

local officials, by working with monks and donors, built bridge to fulfill part of their official duties—an expression of their being “parenting officials” (fumu guan 父母官 )

Stone SteleStone stele associated with Buddhism

emerged from the 5th century and increased thereafter Erecting stone stele is a meritorious act Inscriptions indicate the reasons why donors want

to have the stele madeMonastic bells and drums

Also showed inscriptions indicating donors’ quests for good rewards through their donations of bells and drums to monasteries

Temple Bell

Inscriptions on Stelae, Images, etc.Inscriptions on Stelae, Images, etc.

Why names of donors inscribed?Why names of donors inscribed?– For donors: For donors:

A means of securing prestige, asserting or A means of securing prestige, asserting or improving their social statusimproving their social status

show they fulfilled their duty in a proper wayshow they fulfilled their duty in a proper way

– For monasteries: a means to show wide For monasteries: a means to show wide support, particularly that of high officials or of support, particularly that of high officials or of even emperors even emperors