Chinese
Gods and Folklore Character Glossary
This Chinese
gods glossary contains brief descriptions of popular and famous
characters found throughout Chinese culture and religions. Updates
are frequent.
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Amituo
The Buddha of “Infinite Light” Amituo is one of the
most compassionate figures in Buddhism. He is often depicted seated
in the lotus position with his hands in his lap in a meditational
pose with fingers and thumbs touching.
Chi
Kung
Chi Kung is an extremely popular Buddhist deity worshipped China-wide.
Chi Kung speaks out on behalf of the weak and was much loved by
the common people. He is usually shown barefoot, wears patched and
tattered robes as a beggar, carries a bottle of wine and a fan with
which he can perform magical feats.
Damo
dashi (Ta-Mo)
Also known as Bodhidharma, Ta-mo was an India Buddhist missionary
in about 526AD who became the Fist Patriarch of Eastern (Chinese/Japanese)
Buddhism. Taoist priests claim that Ta-mo was an Immortal from the
Taoist Western Heaven. He is the founder of the Zen (Meditation
School) in China. He is usually shown with large round eyes, black
skin, thick eyebrows and a thick moustache, with one foot bare and
the other wearing a sandal. The other sandal is held in his hand.
Four
Heavenly Kings
According to the Buddhist scriptures, the mountains, rivers, forests
and space of the human world are protected by the four guardian
kings of the world. According to 'Creation of the Gods', a Ming
dynasty novel, each king was actually a general of the Mo family.
After their death in the battlefield, they were sent to the west
and made kings after Jiang Ziya opened a board for entitling the
gods. Images of the Four Kings are frequently used at Buddhist temples
to protect the main god of the temple from evil spirits.
Fu Lu
Shou San Hsing
Fu Lu Shou San Hsing are 3 Stellar Deities of Happiness/Fortune,
Affluence and Longevity. They are frequently seen in Chinese homes.
Pictures of them are extremely popular as symbols of all that Chinese
wish for themselves. The 3 Deities individually are:
-Fu Hsing: The God of Happiness and Fortune. He carries a scepter.
-Lu Hsing: The God of Affluence and Official Rank (career). He Carries
a small boy.
-Shou Hsing: The God of Longevity. He carries a staff and a peach.
is portrayed as an old man with a bald head and a very high forehead.
Fu-Te-Cheng
Shen (Tu-Ti Kung)
Fu-Te-Cheng Shen is also named as Tu-Ti Kung is the Earth God. He
is very a very popular deity in Chinese communities. He is a guardian
of the peace and like a police man, responsible for a fixed area
to the next higher authority. People appeal to their Earth God for
anything that affects their lives and livelihoods. His other role
is as the Wealth God. He protects the wealth of a family and home.
Some businessmen revere him in their place of work as the Earth
God and Wealth God to help with business ventures. People worship
him every 1st and 15th day of Chinese Calendar month.
Gate
Guardians
Gate Guardians stand on either side of the main southern gate of
a temple to ward off evil spirits or thieves. They are believed
by Buddhists to represent two opposing forces of the universe. Garbhavira
is placed to the right as one enters the temple. Vajravira is on
the left.
Guanyin
(Kuan Yin)
Since the tenth century, worship of Guanyin was widespread in Chinese
Buddhism. Her history as a Bodhisattva goes back to Buddhism in
India and beyond where she was a male deity with the original India
title of Avalokitesvara meaning "The God who looks in every
direction." Commonly known to Chinese now Guanyin as the Goddess
of Mercy, she is the most popular of the deity on Chinese altars,
trusted and loved by all Chinese people. She is the personification
of the Merciful who hears those who call upon her and helps them
even to lead them to the peace and happiness of the Western Heaven
of O-Mi-To-Fu. Guanyin is a savior with boundless compassion, a
comforter of the sick, lost, senile, frightened and unfortunate.
Guardian
Kings (Sitian wang)
These four kings guard the four cardinal points of the world and
are protectors of the Buddhist law. They are: Vaishravana, “He
who is knowing,” and holds a pagoda and a staff. Dhrtarastra;
“He who maintains the kingdom of the law,” is blue or
green in China. He usually holds a sword in one hand; Virudhaka,
“He who enlarges the kingdom,” is red in China and green
in Tibet. He usually holds either a sword or lance; Virupaksha,
“He who observes all things in the kingdom,” is white
in China and often holds either a lasso or a sutra.
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