Transformation From Ordinary Man To Dharma Protector

Drikhung Achi,the full name of whom is Drikhung Achi Chokyi Drolma,also known as Drikhung Sumgon’s dharma protector(Yidam).According to various historical materials and folklore,Drikhung Achi Chokyi Drolma is not only the great-grandmother of Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon,the founder of the Drikhung Kagyupa School,but also one of the important protective deities of the Kagyupa sect.According to the view of the senior monks of the Drikhung School,she was the great protector of Buddhism,protects the Buddha’s teachings with her great magic and numerous supernatural power.However,the religious believers in Drikhung area also believe in the deity of Achi,whose influence can be seen in the folk culture of Maldro Gungkar County.Following by Marx’s historical materialism and methodology,combining literature review with field investigation and other research methods,this paper explains the historical background,features of statues,and folk cultural belief.It also discusses Achi Chokyi Droma as a real historical figure.The paper consists of preface,research summary and main text.The preface includes a description of field work,the methods of field work and the contents of specific investigation.The research summary includes the background and source material of the topic,the purpose and significance of this research,the current situation and development trend of the research at home and abroad.The main body part of the thesis is composed of five chapters and eleven sections.The first chapter is entitled the Origin and the Early History of Drikhung Achi.Based on the historical documents while mainly combining with the previous research and field work,this chater combs the historical texts and folklore legends of Drikhung Achi and explains the birthplace of Drikhung Achi and other historical events such as her family and children,and tries to restore the relevant information as for a real historical figure.The second chapter mainly studies the relationship between Drikhung Kagyu school and Drikhung Achi.This chapter focuses on the analysis of the relationship between Drikhung Achi and Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon,founder of Drikhung Kagyu School,and makes a etymological study of the word "Achi".It reveals the process and origin of how Drikhung Achi transferred from a common woman to a Dharma protector of Drikhung Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism.It puts forward that the ancestor of the clan should be regarded as the Dharma protector of one family or even one sect,which is very rare in other sects.It is also the descendants of the Kyura clan,and provides the inheritors of the Drikhung sect to find their clan tradition.The third chapter is mainly based on the field work materials and the previous research results to describe the types and characteristics of the statues of Achi Chokyi Drolma.It believes that the image of Achi Chokyi Drolma is a combination of Goddess Tara,Vajravairaha and Sridevi.The author also makes a bold hypothesis and points out the time when Achi Chokyi Drolma’s early statues created.The fourth chapter,based on the catalogue of ancient books of Drikhung Kagyu series of books of Tibetan and Chinese dynasties,sorts out the documents of sacrificial rituals of Achi as a deity,and expounds the sacrificial rituals as praying ceremony and,the types and production processes of various offerings and sacrificial rituals of Achi as a deity.The fifth chapter mainly studies the influence of the protective deities belief culture,through the interpretation of the religious dance,Shon dance,hat and dressing of Drikhung women,and other the impact of folk culture,points out the deity with regional influence,and explains with Drikhungkagyu sect in the geographical spread in the world,will be Achi Choskyi Drolma beliefs influence also brought to the all of area.The fifth chapter mainly studies the influence of the cult of Drikhung Achi among folk.By explaining the Vajra dance,Kilaya dance,Nangsha hat and women’s dress,it reveals the important influence of Drikhung Achi cult not only in the religious affairs and folk culture of the masses in Drikhung area,but also in the areas outside Tibet.