4. Buddhist Imagery in Early Medieval China as Seen in the Youming lu

Abstract

This chapter observes the creation of new fictional figures and images in the Youming lu under the impact of Buddhist culture revealing the influence of Buddhist imagery depictions. As one of the Three Treasures of Buddhism, the monk can never be separated from Buddha and his teachings, the dharma. As a noted Buddhist monk in the Jin dynasty, Fotudeng was said to have mastered many magical arts. As Buddhism spread throughout China, women began to join the ranks of the devotees of Buddhist dharma. Another Buddhist ghost, raksasa (male), or raksasi (female), first appears in the Youming lu. The portrayal of monks in the collection was among the earliest portrayals of monks in Chinese literature. Besides a direct influence upon Chinese literature and history, the portrayal also played an important role in the development of Chinese Buddhism by exerting influence upon Buddhist hagiography.Keywords: Buddhist Imagery; Fotudeng; Jin; Medieval China; monks; raksasa; raksasa; Youming lu