A Study On Common People's Buddhist Beliefs Of The Northern Zhou

Common people's Buddhist belief was prevalent during the Northern Zhou Dynasty , most believers participated in collective organizations called "Yi" or "Yiyi". Their members were composed of officials, monks and nuns, but the majority of them was the civilian . It were their main activities to create Buddhist sculptures and engage in building or repairing monastery and temple, assembling and reading sutras. But these activities were only generally reflected the chief' s will. As the mainly classical book, TiWeiBoLi sutra instructed Buddhists own exercises when they were at home.Avalokitesvara statue was popular in the north during Northern Zhou and Northern Qi while Maitreya statue declined indefinitely. It was different between the two regimes in worship statues. most of them was Buddhas statue in the Northern Zhou, but Avalokitesvara statue in the Northern Qi. This difference contacted with Buddhist cultural, ethnic composition and other factors.The votive writing of sculpture inscription showed two psychological tendencies in people's Buddhist belief. First, the population of Avalokitesvara Belief, believed that it can protect themselves and their families' health and safety. Second, the strong votive to be reborn to the Western Pure Land. Not to change the reality, the public only hoped to go to heaven after death and enjoy looking life.In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Dunhuang Buddhism was very prosperous. As appointed governor of GuaZhou,Yu yi, Er-mian rong and Li xian were all Buddhist believers, Magnificent cave 428 at Mogao Grottoes was created in that time. Buddhist ideas, belief form and even the people's psychology were all influenced from the eastern region .But creating cave and writing sutras were the obvious characteristics in here.The Buddhist faith combined with Confucian filial piety showed that people would pay more attention to the family's safety.thus,it promoted social stability.Although Minorities and Han Chinese mixed with widely traditional culture and customs, common belief of Buddhism played an important social role in the course of the national assimilation, ethnic conflicts began to defuse.