Daily Life And Faith

The lamp has important significance and value in both secular life and religious life.In Buddhism,whether it is used as a living light,as a support,or as a metaphor,the lamp has a more important position and role.Moreover,Buddhist lamps also played an important role in the Middle Ages in China,adding some new colors to the social life and beliefs at that time.The article mainly discusses the Buddhist lamps and their development in the Middle Ages of China through Buddhist scriptures and historical materials.The full text is divided into four chapters.The first chapter mainly discusses the three modes of existence of light in Buddhist life:lighting lamps,supporting lamps,and metaphor lamps.Among them,the light support is the focus,and the light support merit in the Buddhist scriptures is described in detail.Based on the analysis of the merits of burning lamps in Buddhist scriptures and inscriptions,it is concluded that the merits of burning lamps are mainly expressed at the individual,family and national levels.Meanwhile,through the different forms of the light culture in Buddhism,it can also explain the change of the light from worldly to sacred.The second chapter investigates the lighting ceremony and its significance in the Buddhist scriptures.Through the provisions of the Buddhist scriptures on the lighting apparatus,it is found that there are certain requirements for the material and type of lighting,especially the choice of lamp oil is more strictly regulated.he lighting apparatus in the Buddhist scriptures can reflect the rituals emphasized by Buddhism and the sacred and solemn nature of Buddhism.At the same time,you can also find the religious significance and righteousness expressed behind the lighting ceremony,such as the concept of "killing and protecting students".The third chapter mainly analyzes the development of the two Buddhist lantern cultures in the Middle Ages of China.On behalf of the fifteenth day of Buddhism and the burning of the body to support the lamps,the development of the two types of Buddhism light culture in the Middle Ages was investigated.The development of the Buddhist lantern custom on the 15 th of the first month in the Middle Ages reflects the process of continuous integration and absorption of the Buddhist lantern culture with Chinese traditional culture;The development of the burning of the body to support the lighting culture in the Middle Ages reflected the fact that the Buddhist lighting culturewas contrary to Chinese traditional culture and was not accepted by Chinese culture.The fourth chapter takes the Dunhuang area as an example to investigate the combination of Buddhist lantern activities and Dunhuang folk customs,especially the season customs.As the center of cultural exchanges between China and the West,the Dunhuang area combines various ethnic cultures,ethnic characteristics are prominent,and the Buddhist lighting culture is also accepted and integrated into many folk customs.An examination of the folk customs combined with Buddhist lamps in the Dunhuang area,especially the customs associated with Buddhist lamps in the middle of the year,can reflect the beautiful desire of people in the Middle Ages to pray for peace,health,and stability through lighting activities.At the same time,it also reflects the collision,exchange and integration between the two cultures,namely Indian Buddhist culture and Chinese traditional culture.