Bodhisattva Guanshiyin Analysis

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Recommended: A Comparative Study of Chinese and Western Dragon Culture

The Earliest Tales of the Bodhisattva Guanshiyin – Tale 7
When Han Dang was riding a boat across the Hutuo River, his boat submerged in midstream due to huge waves. He called out the name of Guanshiyin for help. After calling Guanshiyin’s name, Han Dang saw a white creature swimming in the water; dragon. Within seconds, the strong current came to a stop and the wind ceased. As the water only reached up to his knees, he was able to sail back to the sandy bank. Han Dang was hence saved.
Methodology: Exegesis
This report will discuss the Tale 7 from The Earliest Tales of Bodhisattva Guanshiyin written by Campany. R (1996). In this report, you will understand the nouns that exist in Tale 7; Guanshiyin, Dragon and other relevant concepts. Furthermore, …show more content…

This relates to Guanshiyin’s aim, which is to save anyone who calls on her name. Guanshiyin, with her great boundless powers can save and free all sentient beings. Burlingame, CA (1996) from the Dharma Realm Buddhist University translated that according to a Buddhist Sutra (The Lotus Sutra), people who called upon the Guanyin’s name with mental concentration, the Bodhisattva will never fail to help and free them out of distress. Han Dang is able to chant Guanshiyin’s name with a focused mind, where his mind, body and heart becomes one in believing in Guanshiyin will respond to him. Therefore, Han Dang’s desperate prayer and calling of Guanshiyin’s name becomes a trigger to receive Guanshiyin’s response. Correspondingly, to his call, Han Dang saw a white creature looking like a dragon. Miraculously, the current stopped and the wind …show more content…

In Chinese culture, dragons are mythical creatures which are able to fly to the sky and ride the clouds, swim in the seas and chase the waves. In addition, they possess supernatural powers that are able to shake the world. In Chinese popular belief, the people believe that dragons are the ruler of rivers and seas. The dragons can control water, rainfall, typhoons or other moving bodies of water. This popular belief can be proven from the ; 《西游记》where there is a total of four dragon kings who command all the creatures living in all the 4 seas (East, South, North, West) and control rain and flood. In addition, in the ;《封神演义》, when the Dragon King of the East found out that his third son was killed by Li Nezha, he threatened Li Jing that he will use his power and flood the whole Chen Tang Guan (the place where Li Nezha was born), unless Li Nezha pays for the life of his dead son. From these two stories, we can infer that the dragon Han Dang saw might have the power to control the strong waves and wind of the sea. Therefore, the dragon’s appearance stopped the current and saved Han

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