Tang Dynasty Capital Area Guanyin Belief

Buddhism has been introduced into China since the end of the Western Han Dynasty, merging with Chinese native culture, to the Tang Dynasty has been developed to its heyday.Buddhist monks and laymen believe in a variety of Buddhist figures,especially Avalokitesvara. Based on the study of Avalokitesvara scriptures who the Buddhist monks had translated in two capital regions and the Avalokitesvara statues(with the inscriptions on them) in Longmen Grottoes,we analyze that the worship of Avalokitesvara in two capital regions in Tang Dynasty is mainly manifested in the following aspects:Firstly, Buddhist monks translated various types of Avalokitesvara scriptures and put the worship of Avalokitesvara into practice. Taking Chang'an and Luoyang for the translation center, Buddhist monks translated Avalokitesvara scriptures,including rescue type, intelligent type, reborning in paradise type and the Tantrist type.They gradually expanded the image of Avalokitesvara, widened the rescue area, perfected the Avalokitesvara's wisdom, defined practice method. Buddhist monks put the worship of reborning in paradise type of Avalokitesvara and the Tantrist type of Avalokitesvara into practice,through which was still Avalokitesvara's rescue essence.Buddhist monks created Avalokitesvara statues or "western three saints" statues for "the emperor and the empress',"dead parent"and "all beings" in Longmen Grottoes in the hope that Avalokitesvar would solve the difficult and lead the dead to paradise.They read different spells in the hope that Avalokitesvar would cure disease,lay a ghost,spray rain or shield the country from invasion.Secondly,without the bondage of Avalokitesvara scriptures, Avalokitesvara belief merged with Chinese culture.Unlike the fact that Buddhist monks pay more attention to profound philosophical connotations of Avalokitesvara scriptures,laymen praised Avalokitesvara's "rescue" essence and "fulfilled" effect highly.Under the influence of Fahua Buddhism and Huayan Buddhism in the early Tang Dynasty,laymen read Avalokitesvara to solve problems and cure disease in the daily life.With the popularization of Pure Land Buddhism,laymen built "western three saints" statues in the hope that Avalokitesvara would solve the earthly sufferings and bring the dead to the heavenly paradise.Under the influence of Esoteric Buddhism,laymen read different spells in the hope that Avalokitesvar would solve the earthly sufferings or bring the dead to the heavenly paradise.Court painter created "Willow Avalokitesvar" and "Shuiyue Avalokitesvar" according to their own understanding of Buddhist classics and Chinese aesthetic taste.Thirdly,female Avalokitesvar increased in two capital regions in Tang Dynasty. In the early Tang Dynasty Avalokitesvar statue was female, but the chest was not prominent,also with male beard. In the Middle and Late Tang Dynasty,there were more complete female Avalokitesvar,rare masculine image.Avalokitesvar's gender transition only happened in China for the following reasons:both the utilization and advocacy of the rulers, and Buddhism merging with traditional Chinese culture; both the basis in Avalokitesvar classical, and the promotion of majority of female believer; both the merciful characteristics,and the unique aesthetic demand of Chinese people.After gender transition,the female Avalokitesvar became the savior of the world,until now still popular in China.