Chapter 15 Section 3 Seven Treasures and Eight Auspicious

Qibao is the free translation of Sanskrit Sapta ratnani.It has two meanings: One meaning refers to the seven precious jewels, gold and jade, in the Buddhist kingdom.Its types and uses are different from each other.Here are four representative ones: "Infinite Life Sutra" volume: "The land of the Buddha, the seven natural treasures: gold, silver, glass, coral, amber, giant clam [che qu car canal], agate, synthesized into a land, magnificent and vast, unlimited, All phases are mixed with each other, and the phases enter, and the light is shining, subtle and beautiful, pure and solemn." That is to say, the land of the Buddhist kingdom (that is, the Land of Ultimate Bliss) of the Buddha of Infinite Life (that is, Amitabha Buddha) is composed of the seven treasures.

"Amitabha Sutra": "In the Land of Ultimate Bliss, there is a pool of seven treasures: it is filled with water of eight merits and virtues. The bottom of the pool is purely covered with gold sand, and the steps on the four sides are made of gold, silver, colored glaze, and glass. There are pavilions on it, and they are also made of gold, silver, and colored glaze. , glass, clam, red beads, and agate, and decorate them strictly." It talks about the materials used for Qibao Pavilion. "Miaofa Lotus Sutra Seeing the Pagoda": "At that time there was a pagoda with seven treasures in front of the Buddha... Countless banners were decorated...the banners were covered with gold, silver, glass, clam, agate, pearls, roses and seven treasures. As high as the palace of the four heavens." He only talked about the materials used for the banner cover.

The tenth volume of "Great Wisdom" talks about treasures: "There are four kinds of treasures: gold, silver, vitriol, and pear. There are also seven kinds of treasures: gold, silver, pili, pear, carqu, agate, Red real pearl (this pearl is very expensive, not coral). There are more treasures: Maragadha (this pearl comes out from the mouth of Garuda. It is green and can ward off all poisons), Indonila (the sky blue pearl) ), Maha Nile (big blue pearl), Bomaraka (red light pearl), Yueja (vajra), dragon pearl, wish-fulfilling pearl, jade shell, coral, amber, etc. By the way, in Buddhist scriptures, "seven" is often used as a metaphor, which is a rhetorical way of substituting fixed numbers for indefinite numbers. For example, "Duobao Pagoda" is also "Seven Treasures Pagoda".However, in order to fix the "seven", especially in the meaning of "seven treasures", seven kinds of treasures are often used to implement it.The titles mentioned in each sutra are different, and the sum will overflow the number of "seven", which is regarded as such.That is to say, it is acceptable to regard the "seven treasures" as the "seven treasures" in "many treasures".

As for the offerings in Buddhist temples, they are limited to financial resources, so there are many substitutes.For example, there are gold coins, silver foil, copper coins, crystal beads, amber beads, agarwood, and fragrant mud cakes hidden in the bodies of the two Buddha statues on the second and fourth floors of the wooden pagoda in Ying County.In order to distinguish it from the other seven treasures mentioned below, this kind of seven treasures is often called "seven treasures".Note: On the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, the Laba porridge cooked in Buddhist temples is called Qibao porridge.It uses a variety of grains and fruits to represent the seven treasures, also known as Buddha porridge.

I have to say a few words about the texture, characteristics and related issues of the two kinds of treasures among the seven treasures: Liuli, a brief transliteration of Sanskrit Vaidurya, the full translation is "Vi Liuli".It is said that it is a kind of natural opal jade, and its different types can show different colors of blue, white, red, black and green, and most of them are blue.Its biggest feature is its "assimilation" nature, and anyone who approaches it will be shrouded in its light color, showing its light color.According to legend, the blue color of the sky (called "empty blue" in Chinese) is reflected by the colored glaze in the south of Mount Sumeru.The Chinese sometimes use artificial objects instead.The glazed lamps offered in front of the Buddha are more often made of man-made glass, whichever is more transparent.Donors are sincere, it's okay.As long as we know the original meaning and characteristics of this thing in the Buddhist scriptures, that's it.

Glass, the abbreviated transliteration of Sanskrit Sphatika, the full translation includes "Seppo Zhijia" and so on.Free translation of "Shuiyu", "Shuijing", "White Jade".Refers to natural crystal stones of white, purple, red, blue and other colors.According to the "Lishi Abhitan Lun Sun and Moon Practices" translated by Chen Chao Zhenyi, the Sun Palace, the palace of the Sun Emperor, is composed of "fire beads", that is, heated glass; the Moon Palace, the palace of the Moon Emperor, is composed of "water "Beads" are composed of chilled glass.There are also many records about glass in other Buddhist scriptures, all of which refer to naturally formed minerals.It is not impossible to replace it with man-made glass for Buddhist temples in later generations, as long as you know its original meaning and characteristics.

The "Seven Treasure Tree" deserves a special mention.People who don't read the original texts often think that it is a tree composed of seven treasures.Not really.According to the "Infinite Life Sutra": "And the land is full of trees of the seven treasures, all over the world: gold trees, silver trees, glass trees, glass trees, coral trees, agate trees, giant clam trees: there may be two or three treasures, Even the seven treasures are combined and synthesized." It can be seen that they are seven kinds of trees, and each tree is composed of two, three, and up to seven kinds of treasures. Some examples are given in the "Infinite Life Sutra": "There may be a golden tree with silver leaves, flowers, and fruits. Or a silver tree with golden leaves, flowers, and fruits. Or a glass tree with glass as leaves, flowers, and fruits. Or the water essence tree, the glass is the leaves, flowers and fruits. Or the coral tree and agate are the leaves, and the flowers and fruits are the same. Or the agate tree, the glass is the leaves, and the flowers and fruits are the same. Or the giant clam tree, the treasures The same is true for leaves, flowers, and fruits.” The first six types mentioned are all two treasures, and the seventh is a combination of “many treasures”.To be more specific, this sutra then cited seven kinds of "precious trees", and here is one example: "There may be a precious tree: purple gold as the base, silver as the stem, glass as the branch, water essence as the bar, Coral is the leaf, agate is the flower, and giant clam is the reality." The other six kinds of precious trees, but each part is replaced with different treasures, please refer to the original scriptures, without reference.There are also seven types of this kind of jeweled tree that is full of the seven treasures, not just one.

In addition, Tantra has the theory of "five treasures".The types mentioned and the various scriptures are not consistent, and they generally do not fall within the scope of Shangju Duobao.When setting up altars in modern times, the commonly used ones are gold, silver, amber, water essence, and colored glaze, and substitutes are also commonly used. According to Volume 3 of "Translation Name Collection": "There are two kinds of seven treasures in Buddhism, one is seven kinds of treasures, and the other is seven kinds of king treasures." "Wang treasure" is another meaning of seven treasures. Qibao.According to the records of many scriptures such as the third volume of "Chang'an Sutra", they are:

Jinlunbao, in Buddhism, shows that the Dharma wheel is constantly turning, and its image is a golden wheel. The Layman Treasure, also known as the Master Treasure and the Silver Mountain Treasure, shows the precepts, and its image is a silver-white hill.It is a hybrid incarnation of "Treasurer" and "Minister of Finance". White Elephant Treasure, with great strength and gentle disposition, is a white ivory elephant with six tusks.It is said that six teeth represent "six degrees" and four legs symbolize "four wishes". Ma Bao, which shows that it has spread far and wide, and its image is a red agate-colored horse.It is said that in the mythology of the South Asian subcontinent, there is a horse king named Brahma (xixi) who lives in the sea.He has eight thousand dependents, all of whom are god horses.When the wheel-turning sage king was born, he went to the sea and summoned a pony to ride, which was called Mabao.

Jewelry (Ruyi jewellery) is round and bright, and its image is a big bead.It is said that it is strict and wonderful, and it naturally reveals pure light, which generally shines in all directions.It is neither hot nor cold.People have internal, external, and dermatological diseases, and they will be cured by applying beads to their bodies. Female treasure, showing Miaojing, looks like a jade (or red) beauty.It is said that she has a good face, with sandalwood from all the pores of her body, gentle speech and serene demeanor. The main soldier treasure (general treasure, warrior treasure) shows victory over the enemy, invincible, and the image is a warrior.It is the symbolic embodiment of the army.

These seven treasures are often made into their respective images like chess pieces; or made into plate-shaped patterns and inserted on lotus pedestals, lined up, and placed in front of the Buddha for offering.Although the records of the seven king treasures were translated and circulated as early as the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it seems that they were generally used as offering utensils in front of the Buddha in the early Tang Dynasty, because they are a main offering utensils of Tantric Buddhism.However, Tantric Buddhism became popular only during the time of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty.They were introduced directly from the South Asian subcontinent by Sinicized Buddhism. According to some people, the shapes of chess pieces are somewhat related to them.The author does not know how to play chess, and does not know the history of chess, so the record is pending. Let's talk about "eight auspiciousness". "Eight auspicious", also known as "eight treasures".As the name implies, they are eight auspicious things that represent auspiciousness; at the same time, in order to distinguish them from the "seven treasures" and the folk "eight treasures", we believe that it is best to only call them "eight auspiciousness" instead of "eight auspiciousness". "Treasure", but it should be known that there are "eight treasures" or even "eight treasures auspicious". Bajixiang is the eight mascots of Tantric Buddhism, and Hanmi is learned from Tibetan secrets. The eight auspicious signs were originally a kind of mascot spread in Tibetan Buddhism, which can be used as offerings in front of the Buddha, stupas, top ornaments of temples and pattern decorations.Later, it was introduced to the Central Plains with lamas, around the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty.According to the popular name of Sinicized Buddhism, the eight mascots are: Wheel, the full name is "Dharma Wheel". Snail, the full name is "Faluo".It is said that it can blow out "wonderful sound and auspiciousness". Umbrella, the full name is "Bao Umbrella".It is said that it can "relax freely and cover all living beings". Gai, the full name is "White Gai" and "Tian Gai".It is said that it can "cover three thousand realms". The full name of the flower is "Lotus".Take the meaning of "coming out of the five turbid world without any defilement". Bottle (jar), the full name is "treasure bottle".Instant flower bottle.Take the meaning of "complete without omission". Fish, the full name is "goldfish".And because they often appear in a pair, they are also known as "Pisces" and "pair fish".Take the meaning of "lively and free". Long (intestine), the full name is "Pan Chang", and it is called "Baji" when secular people use it (often used alone).It is a looped diamond rope pattern.Tibetan Buddhism calls it "knot", and the full name should be "Vajra Knot".When practicing Tantric Buddhism, this kind of knot can only be tied through certain blessing rituals.After receiving this knot, you will be protected by the Buddha.Sinicized Buddhism takes its meaning of "Buddha said that the circle implements all enlightenment". In Sinicized Buddhist temples, the eight auspicious signs are often used as offerings and listed in front of the Buddha.For example, the seven Buddhas in the Seven Buddha Hall of Xuanzhong Temple, Jiaocheng, Shanxi Province are placed in the front row.Recently, the Institute of Chinese Buddhist Culture in Beijing has made silver eight auspicious signs according to the law, which are very solemn and solemn, as shown in the color picture.It is often used as a pattern, cast or engraved or painted on various utensils.For example, many of the large incense burners displayed in the vestibule of the main hall have such patterns cast on them.This is the case in Chen Yiju of Guangji Temple in Beijing.As for Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, they can be found everywhere. It should be noted that Bajixiang, as a kind of mascot, has been integrated into the folk during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.Many civil porcelain, cloisonné, ornaments, and fabrics often have eight auspicious patterns appearing in different shapes, complex and changeable, and more and more Han patterns, and are similar to other auspicious symbol patterns commonly used by the Han (such as longevity) words) match.It can be said that as an offering, it is also dedicated to Buddhism; as a pattern, it seems to have been secularized and socialized. It should be noted that among the original auspicious patterns of the Han nationality, there is a pattern of "Eight Treasures".It is mixed in patterns such as pearls, silver ingots, Fang Sheng, Ruyi (cloud head Ruyi), rhinoceros horn, coral, chime, scrolls, brushes, mugwort leaves, banana leaves, red leaves, tripods, drum boards, jade bracelets, cranes, ganoderma lucidum, pine trees, etc. Take about eight kinds and put them together.Widely used on various items.In Sinicized and Tibetan monasteries, there are also folk "Eight Treasures" painted or carved (mostly in bas-relief) as edge decorations, and the eight types are not used as a routine, but several are chosen arbitrarily, called It is called "miscellaneous treasure".Some of them, such as Ruyi and coral trees, are also offered as offerings to the Buddha.The above practices all have great folk customs.Another kind of "Eight Treasures of Taoism" is actually common in secular society and is taken from Taoist stories. Its real name is "Dark Eight Immortals". (Lu Dongbin), Fish Drum (Zhang Guolao), Jade Ban (Cao Guojiu), Gourd (Tieguai Li), Xiao (Han Xiangzi), Flower Basket (Lan Caihe), Lotus (He Xiangu).Do not confuse these two "Eight Treasures" with the "Eight Treasures Auspiciousness" that originated from Buddhism.