CHAPTER XIV.

BUDDHIST IMAGES AND IMAGE WORSHIP.

Temples--Entering hall, Si-ta-t'ien-wang--These four kings described--The laughing Buddha, Mi-li Fo--Behind him, Wei-to--Chief hall Ta-hiung-pau-tien--Shakyamuni--Ananda--Kashiapa--Kwan-yin, Wen-shu, and other Bodhisattwas--Buddha represented as teaching--Buddha of the past, present, and future--Chapels to O-mi-to Fo, Ti-tsang, and the Ten kings--Representation of the eight miseries from which Kwan-yin delivers--Temples in Ceylon--Images in temples near Peking--Tan-cho-si snake--Pi-yun-si--Hall of Lo-hans--Diamond throne of Buddha--Colossal images of Maitreya--Musical instruments--Reflections.

THE temples of the Buddhists, like other Chinese structures, usually look south. Their architecture also is similar. Temples cut in rock, like those of the same religion in India and Java, are not found. In natural caves, however, and on hill sides images are sometimes cut from the stone. Temples consist of several halls and chapels called by a common name, tien. In the "entering hall" (si-i'ien wang-tien), two colossal wooden statues meet the eye on each side. These are the Maharajas, or "Four great kings of Devas," or Si-ta-t'ien-wang.

The Sanscrit names are explained: "Vaishramana" (Pi-sha-men), "He who has heard much;" "Dhritarashtra" (T'i-to-lo-to), "Protector of kingdoms;" "Virudhaka" (Pi-leu-le-cha), "Increased grandeur;" and Virupaksha (Pi-lieu-pa-cha), "Large eyes." They are called in Chinese To-wen, Ch'i-kwo, Tseng-chang, and Kwang-mu.

They govern the continents lying in the direction of the four cardinal points from Mount Sumeru, the supposed centre of the world.

In the Kin-kwang-ming-king, they are described as actively interfering in the affairs of the world. When kings and nations neglect the law of Buddha, they withdraw their protection. They bestow all kinds of happiness on those that honour the San-pau (Three treasures), viz., Buddha, the Law, and the Priesthood.

Properly they are all warlike, but as seen in temples they are dressed in different modes. He of the South holds a sword. He has a black countenance and ferocious expression. The others have blue, red, and white faces. One holds in his hands a "guitar" (p'i-pa), at the sound of which all the world begins to listen, or, as some say, the camps of his enemies take fire. Another has an umbrella in his hand, at the elevation of which a violent storm of thunder and rain commences; or, according to others, universal darkness ensues. Another holds in his hand a snake, or some other animal hostile to man, but by his power made submissive and instrumental to the wishes of its conqueror.