Two Images of Maitreya — Fu Hsi and Pu-Tai Ho-Shang
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Two Images of Maitreya — Fu Hsi and Pu-tai Ho-shang Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Bea-Hui Hsiao School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 1995 ProQuest Number: 10673131 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10673131 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ABSTRACT This study is undertaken in the hope that the Chinese depictions of its subjects, the layman Fu Hsi and the monk Pu- tai, may serve as a gateway to a wider perception and deeper understanding of Chinese religion. In particular, this study aims to shed light on the influence of Chinese culture and religion on Buddhist tendencies in the sixth century and on the development of Chinese Zen Buddhism in the tenth. These two personages have long been regarded in Chinese Buddhist history as pre-incarnations of Bodhisattva Maitreya. Within this context the present study provides the necessary background to the Maitreya tradition in order to establish the relevant connections between these two figures, and summarizes the Buddhist background during their lifetimes. In addition, two conspectuses of the available biographical sources on Fu Hsi and Pu-tai are also presented. After unveiling Fu Hsi's biography, an in-depth analysis of Buddhist practice in early medieval China is provided to shed light on Fu Hsi's life. Every effort has been made to analyze what is represented as Fu Hsi's thought and evaluate his supposed doctrinal contributions to the Eight Schools of Chinese Buddhism. Furthermore, an endeavour has been made to delve into the enigmas of Pu-tai's life and incidents to trace Buddhist doctrinal development. Eventually, an evaluation of the influence of these two figures on various social substrata of Chinese culture is undertaken, and a comparison of the affinities and differences between these two is drawn. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My grateful acknowledgements are due to those who have contributed to the completion of this dissertation: masters, teachers and friends near and far, who have given their comments, encouragement and suggestions, without which this dissertation would certainly never have attained completion. The Venerable Yin-shun who despite serious illness continued to instruct me with his profound knowledge of the Dharma. The Venerable K'ai-cheng and my family have supported me financially and spiritually throughout my M.A. studies in the U.S.A., and without whose benevolent assistance and encouragement I would not have been able to continue my task. My former teachers, Prof. Lewis Lancaster and Prof. Ken Tanaka of Berkeley, California, to whom I am indebted for a foundation in Buddhism from a western academic point of view. I also wish to express my deep gratitude to my present supervisor, Prof.Tim. Barrett, to whose patient and generous teachings, I owe my understanding of Chinese Buddhist history. To Dr.T . Skorupski, I appreciate his benevolence in reading and suggesting my thesis. A number of intimate classmates and respected teachers at the Yuan-kuang Buddhist College in Taiwan have been very helpful in locating sources from Japan and Taiwan for my studies. Finally, my thanks go to my friend, Ms.Doreen Davey, who helped with the corrections to this thesis. With their invaluable assistance this thesis has come to fruition. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover ........................................................... 1 Abstract ........................................................ 2 Acknowledgements .............................................. 3 Table of contents ........... 4 Table of Chinese Dynasties .................................. 5 Foreword ....................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................ 10 1. The Background of the Maitreya tradition ............. 20 Part One: Fu Hsi 2. Biographical sources on Fu Hsi ..................... 50 3. The epitaph on Fu Hsi ............................. 64 4. The life of Fu Hsi .................................. 88 5. The practice of Fu Hsi --- The tendency of Buddhism in the sixth century .................. 117 6. Fu Hsi's standing in the Six Schools of Chinese Buddhism ............................................. 174 Part Two: The monk Pu-tai 7. The introduction of the monkPu-tai ......... 225 8. The enigmas of the monk Pu-tai ................... 233 (1) Date of nirvSTga............................... 233 (2) Birthday ...................................... 239 (3) The surname Li ............................... 240 (4) The legend of carrying a sandal to India . 244 (5) A devout follower:Chiang Mo-ho ............ 248 (6) The implication of the hemp-bag ............ 251 (7) The extent of Pu-tai *s travel ............. 255 (8) Miracles........................................ 260 (9) Title granting ............................... 264 (10) Zen practice ................................. 268 9. Conclusion ................................................. 287 Abbreviations ................................................. 304 Bibliography ........................................ 308 Glossary of Chinese terms .................................. 318 Appendix ...................................................... 328 4 I. Table of Chinese Dynasties Hsia S ca. 2205 - 1766 B.C. Shang K8 ca. 1766 - 1122 B.C. Chou H ca. 1122 - 256 B.C. Ch’in m 221 - 206 B.C. Han 206 B.C. - A.D. 220 Three Kingdois H H 220 - 265 Chin* Western Chin Bill 265 - 316 Eastern Chin 317 - 419 Northern Dynasties dblH 439 - 581 Southern Dynasties 420 - 589 Sui PS 581 - 618 T'ang & 618 - 906 Five Dynasties iEft 907 - 960 Sung: North 960 - 1127 South 1127 - 1279 Yiian (Mongol) jc (S?t!i) 1280 - 1368 Ming 00 1368 - 1644 Ch’ing if 1644 - 1911 Republic 1912 - People’s Repudlic 1949 - II. Southern Dynasties Sung 420 - 478 A.D. ch’i n 479 - 501 Liang S& 502 - 556 Ch’en m 557 - 589 III. Five Dynasties Hou Liang mm 907 -- 922 A.D. Hou T'ang mm 923 ■- 935 Hou Chin mm 936 •- 946 Hou Han mm 947 -- 953 Hou Chou mm 954 -- 960 5 FOREWORD This study is undertaken in the hope that the Chinese depictions of its subjects, the layman Fu Hsi and the monk Pu- tai , may serve as a gateway to a wider perception and deeper understanding of Chinese religion. These two personages have long been regarded in Chinese Buddhist history as pre incarnations of bodhisattva Maitreya. Thus the present study provides the necessary background to the Maitreya tradition in China only as a basis to examine the relevant connections between these two figures. The overall purpose of this study is primarily focused on the first of these two figures, Fu Hsi, whose image has hardly been discussed in any language, but in order to explain this neglect it is necessary to take into account also the figure of Pu-tai, known to many outside China as the "Laughing Buddha". The argument we shall seek to establish is that this popular Chinese conception of a pre incarnation of Maitreya has directed attention away from Fu Hsi, who embodies an earlier conception of Maitreya. This may be because although Pu-tai is described in sources quite close to his lifetime, and so must have made an immediate impact on the Chinese imagination, the most detailed sources on Fu Hsi seem at first glance fairly late. Yet the materials relating to Fu Hsi's life, and especially those which give a picture of his deeds as seen by his followers, may safely be situated in a historical context far earlier, and in fact far closer to the time of the historical Fu Hsi, than has generally been realised. Thus we hope to provide scholars interested in Chinese religion with a new resource for future research. 6 Although they are both regarded as the saviour Maitreya, Fu Hsi and Pu-tai conducted themselves in very different ways: one was serious and the other jocular. Structurally, this thesis is appropriately divided into two parts. Part one deals with the serious and faithful layman Fu Hsi and his contribution to Buddhist teachings. Part two is concerned with the jovial and mysterious monk Pu-tai Ho-shang. These two parts span over nine chapters. Chapter One traces the Maitreya tradition and Buddhist background in Fu Hsi's time, and touches upon the Maitreya movements in China. Chapter Two presents a conspectus of the available biographical sources on Fu Hsi. Chapter Three is a translation of the Pei-wen, an epitaph composed by Hsu Ling (505-583), which presents the life of Fu Hsi and reveals the earliest image of Maitreya in Fu Hsi. Chapter Four, based on the Shan-hui ta-shih yti-lu. the fullest source we have on Fu Hsi, is a further study of Fu Hsi's feats, and clarifies the image of him held by his followers. Chapter Five provides an in-depth analysis of Buddhist practice during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Chapter Six analyzes the type of Buddhist thought attributed to Fu Hsi and evaluates his alleged teachings as sources of doctrines to be found throughout the Eight Schools of Chinese Buddhism. Chapter Seven introduces the legends surrounding Pu-tai. Chapter