MANJUGOSHA

[hope rainbow]

I just read that Qing rulers were given the titles of Emperor Manjughosa, and more particularly by the Great 5th Dalai Lama, Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen, and also the Seventh Dalai Lama Kalsang Gyatso.

Here is the article I found on the NER: http://dorjeshugdenhistory.org/among-shugden-texts-1642.html

I understand that this name MANJUGOSHA is made relevant by Manjushri and China Emperors sharing the same mindstream. I do know of Kangxi being a direct emanantion of Tulku Drakpa Gyaeltsen, and I know that the emperors after him did propitiate or protect the Tibetan Buddhism in China. Though wht makes this title relevant for the other emperors?

It seems, again, that Manjushri is looking over China for a very long time already, preparing the country for wealth both material and spiritual.

In fact the very region of Kham is geographically situated like a "bridge" between the province of Tibet and the rest of China. I took notice of that detail...

[ilikeshugden]

Wow! This is very interesting information, hope rainbow. I really wished that the Chinese Government would add this to their school textbooks! LOL! What I believe is that China was meant to have Dorje Shugden as their protector since even during the days of the great emperors. I believe that Dorje Shugden is the deity that protects China. He is the Buddha who makes sure that China is okay both on a financial level and a spiritual level. Dorje Shugden IS part of Chinese culture and if the Dalai Lama tries to stop people in China from practicing their own cultural religion, he is breaching Human Rights! It will also create a lot of disunity amongst the Chinese if the Dalai Lama continually puts down the Dorje Shugden practitioners.

[Big Uncle]

Well, besides Emperor Kangxi, I am not sure if the other emperors were emanations of Manjushri. I think the Great Fifth Dalai Lama bestowed that title to Emperor Shunxi probably as a auspicious gesture as he foresee Manjushri about to emanate as one of the Emperors. It could also meant to bless the emperor so his rule would be wise and benevolent.

Names bestowed especially those that are of the Aryas have the power plant seeds of enlightenment into our minds each time we hear ourselves being called that particular name. On top of that, the Tibetans have a long-standing tradition that the rulers of China were emanations of Manjushri while the rulers of Tibet were emanations of Avalokiteshvara. Wu Tai Shan, the earthly abode of Manjushri is in China. These are a few signs of Chinese affinity with Manjushri. It does not necessarily mean all Chinese are special or attained. No. It is just an affinity due to karma and circumstances.

[bambi]

Hhmmm... Interesting information. If the information are what it seems then there are some connections here.  As what Hope Rainbow said, it seems that Manjushri have been in China for a long time. Now I know why Wu Tai Shan and Lord Dorje Shugden are in China.  Manjushri have emanated as one of the emperors and named Manjugosha to create an affinity for then and future. So I guess Dalai Lama banning Lord Dorje Shugden is to create the affinity for the Chinese to meet Him again. See how it relates.... Amazing!

[jeremyg]

It would really be quite something if the emperors of the past were all emanations on Manjushri. It may seem far fetched, but the enlightened mind can emanate without limits, so why not? China must have really good merits to be able to receive such blessings.

After all China has the world's biggest population. In addition to that they have the 'asian' mentality which is fairly open to spiritualism, especially buddhism, so it would make sense for emanations of Manjushri to put themselves in China. Even though they did not make it apparent that they were emanations, they would do whatever is best to benefit the people. So if this was to just make buddhism popular in China, then their mission is fulfilled. Now the billion or so Chinese, can learn up and start to practice.

[honeydakini]

That's very interesting. Not far off from the old western thinking that kings were also gods.

It's interesting how much Manjushri is a part of the Chinese culture, perhaps without them even knowing. I've seen beautiful pictures about Manjushri's abode in China, the Five Peaked Mountains which I think is one of the main pilgrimage places in the China. (also, where Dorje Shugden resides, just as it says in the sadhana, where we invite him from "Kechara, Shambala, five-peaked mountain..."). They have their own images of Manjushri in the temples there which look very different from the one of the Tibetan lineages but it seems a very ingrained and old part of their culture. The temples there also have Tsongkhapa images everywhere - and of course, wherever Tsongkhapa is, so is Dorje Shugden, as we know! Manjushri resides, in his every form.

The Gelugpa lineage was known to be very strong throughout China. Chinese friends told me this, rather surprised! They had dug around a bit in the old corners of Beijing and discovered many old Lama Tsongkhapa temples, like the really prominent one that was transformed from a palace into a temple, Yong Heh Gung, I think, with a huge Maitreya statue and Tsongkhapa image. And Tsongkhapa is of course, Manjushri too, as we know! So there is Manjushri everywhere there.

[hope rainbow]

That's very interesting. Not far off from the old western thinking that kings were also gods.

Actually, not quite...
Western Kings were so from "divine rights", as if God himself had blessed that or that royal house.
Not as if a King was an emanation of God...
(now, they might well have been so, but were not understood as such)

With the Qing imperial house, and specifically with Kangxi Emperor, it is established that he is within the same mindstream as Tulku Drakpa Gyealtsen, thus of Manjushri. This is much direct, much more powerful actually.

Kangxi is a very interesting Emperor, for his dedication to strengthen China, to spread knowledge, to establish systems and houses that would survive him and help the country, the nation of China to become stronger, more united, more organized, to suffer less from natural calamities (like floods for exmaple) is truly remarquable!
It is said he worked day and night tirelessly, EFFORT.... that quality rings a bell, and it's not the only one...

[Ensapa]

Emperor Kangxi is one of China's most successful and well-loved emperors. His biography has inspired a number of novels and only his grandson, Qianlong would be able to match him in terms of fame and achievements that he has done for the Chinese people. Of all the Chinese emperors, he reigned the longest in history and the country experienced a lot of prosperity and peace during this time. It is not surprising if he is of the same mindstream of Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen.

Kangxi (1654-1722), whose full name is Ai Xin Jue Luo Xuan Ye, was the second emperor after the Qing dynasty conquered the central plains. "Kangxi" is his Chinese era name. He was in power for as long as 61 years, being the emperor who reigned for the longest period in the history of China.
Kangxi ascended the throne at the age of eight and, when he was 14, he rooted out the Prime Minister Ao Bai and began to take over reign of the political affairs. During his reign, he got rid of the power of three Feudatories such as Wu Sangui, reoccupied Taiwan, suppressed the revolt of Galdan Khan at Junggar, and resisted the Russia's invasion to Northeast China and signed the Sino-Russian Treaty of Nerchinsk, thus delimiting the borderline of northeast China. He gave much emphasis in dealing with the relations with the northern nomadic minorities and thus stabilized the country of multi-nationalities. Economically, Kangxi adopted a series of policies conducive to the well-being of a nation, such as actively encouraging and rewarding the people to reclaim the wasteland, rehabilitating the hydraulic engineering of the Yellow River, Huai River, and channels, and reforming the tax system. With these policies, he greatly lightened the farmers' burden and finally boosted the development of the agriculture economy, thus preliminarily recovering the social economy destroyed by the wars and slaughters during the early days of the Qing Dynasty. Culturally, he gave special treatment to the intellectual of Han nationality and actively learnt and advocated the Han culture conducive to the feudal reign, thus promoting the culture autarchy of Chinese feudal society to its crest. Yet, in the later years of Kangxi, his inappropriate handling of throne-inheritance issue led to twenty years' combat and clique among his sons. During this period, the administration of officials was neglected and a great number of clans emerged, which in turn directly jeopardized the social stability.
In the history of China's feudalism, Kangxi is undoubtedly an outstanding emperor in both military glory and civic achievements. He stabilized the regime during the early days of the Qing Dynasty and greatly strengthened the centralization of monarch power, propelling China's feudal system to its zenith. He quickly recovered the war-destructed economy and initiated a period of great prosperity in history.

[Positive Change]

What is behind the name:

Manjushri (Wen-shu Pu-sa), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, manifests from time to time to teach living beings. He is actually an ancient Buddha who is also known as the guru or teacher of seven Buddhas. His bodhimanda is Wu Tai Mountain, one of the four sacred mountains in China. His name means "Wonderful Virtue" or "Wonderful Auspiciousness." He is the foremost in the universe when it comes to wisdom. He was the only disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha that the Buddha could get to visit Venerable Vimalakirti when the great Venerable one was ill.

He bestows intelligence, wisdom, mastery of the Teaching, the power of exposition, eloquence and memory. He is the principle guardian and patron of astrologers. Revered as the patron of arts and sciences, he is traditionally invoked by writers for assistance. Authors often open their books with verses in his honour.

The Sanskrit name Manjushri means "gentle glory" or "sweet glory." Manjushri is also known as Manjughosha (meaning "sweet-voiced-one" or "gentle-voiced-one") and as Vagishvara ("Lord of Speech").

Manjushri is said to have the power of discriminating wisdom. He can discriminate between correct and incorrect views and between beneficial and non-beneficial actions that must be taken on one's spiritual path. He holds a sword that vanquishes ignorance. Manjushri's sword is also considered a sword of quick detachment and a symbol of enlightened will.

In Buddhist art, Manjushri is portrayed as a beautiful 16-year-old prince. He often holds in his left hand the stem of a blue lotus blossom. On the blossom rests one of the Prajnaparamita scriptures, which deal with the realization of Prajna, or wisdom. With his right hand he wields a flaming sword of wisdom to vanquish ignorance.

DHIH is the bija, or seed syllable, of Manjushri. The essence of a cosmic being is concentrated in his bija. Manjushri's mantra can be given to help develop wisdom, memory, and the understanding of the scriptures.

According to one Tibetan tradition, the devotee should recite this mantra -OM AH RA PA TSA NA DHIH- 100, 21, or at least 7 times. On the last repetition, the final syllable, DHIH, is to be repeated as many times as possible.

H. H. Sakya Trizin, head of the Sakya Sect is a current nirmanakaya incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Je Tsongkhapa, Sakya Pandita, and Longchenpa were all also considered Tibetan manifestations of Manjushri.




A little History behind the name:

Shizu/The Shunzhi Emperor/Fulin (also Shih-tsu and Shun-chih)

During his time as emperor, Hung Taiji’s son Fulin was known as the Qing Shizu or the Shunzhi Emperor (1638-1661, r. 1644-1661). He was the third Manchu emperor, following Emperor Taizong (r. 1626-43).

In 1653 he received the Fifth Dalai Lama in Peking and 20th century sources claim that he publicly demonstrated his support of Tibetan Buddhism during the Dalai Lama’s visit.

The Dalai Lama is sometimes said to have presented Shunzhi with a golden plate that said, “God of the Sky, Manjughosha-Emperor and Great Being” (Tib. Gnam gyi lha ‘jam dbyangs gong ma bdag po chen po) although this has not yet been confirmed by Qing sources.

The Chinese monk Ngag dbang blo bzang whom the Shunzhi emperor appointed to oversee Wutaishan in 1660 requested the composition of one of the earliest examples of books printed in China for the Mongols. In this guidebook to Wutaishan, called Uta-yin tabun agulan-u orosil susugten-u cikin cimeg, the Qing emperor is referred to as the “reincarnation of Manjushri.”

Shunzhi was also posthumously referred to as the “sublime Manjushri Shunzhi” in the first Lcang-skya Qutugtu’s biography written by Ngag dbang chos ldan in 1729. In addition to and perhaps surpassing his connections with Tibetan Buddhists, he was closely affiliated with Chan monks, some of whom lived in the imperial palace during his reign.

[rossoneri]

Mount Wutai

Wutai Shan consider is a holy site for Tibetan Buddhist and also to Buddhist in the world. It is said that Manjushri is believed to frequently appear on the mountain, taking the form of ordinary pilgrims, monks, or most often unusual five-colored clouds.

Mount Wutai is located in Wutai County in Shanxi Province, about 120 kilometers north of the city of Taiyuan. It consists of five platform-shaped peaks, of which, the highest, at 3,058 meters above sea level, is called the "roof of North China." The weather here is cold and the peaks are snowcapped all year round. The slopes are thickly forested.

Legend says that a Manjusri (bodhisattva of Wisdom) visited this mountain and decided to stay. Being the most famous of the four mountains in China that are sacred to Buddhists (the others are Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, Mount Jiuhua in Anhui Province, and Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province), mount Wutai draws pilgrims from China and other Asian countries to come and pay homage. The first monasteries and shrines built on the mountain date back to the first century A.D. During the Tang Dynasty, when Buddhism enjoyed its zenith, there were more than 360 monasteries and shrines housing over two thousand monks and nuns. There are now forty-seven operating monasteries with over a hundred monks and nuns. On entering the town of Taihuai, one is struck by its Buddhist rituals: the burning of incense, the tolling of bells in the morning, and the beating of drums in the evening.

Prominence Monastery (Xiantongsi)

Located at the northern end of Taihuan, Mount Wutai's earliest monastery was first built in A.D. 58-75 during the reign of Emperor Yong Ping of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It includes four hundred halls and other buildings, one of which is a magnificent brick structure without a single roof beam. There are also a bronze hall three meters high, two bronze pagodas over six meters high, and a huge bronze bell weighing five thousand kilogrammes, all dating from the Ming Dynasty.

Buddha's Peak Monastery (pusadingsi)

This monastery is located on Divine Vulture Peak on the northern end of Prominence Monastery. Legend says that a Manjusri (Bodhisattva of Wisdom) resided here. Its main halls were mostly built with finely  made bricks and colored glazed  tile roofs. In an open courtyard there remains a cauldron, five feet in diameter and four feet deep, which was used by the monks to cook gruel for the poor twice a year. It was said that the cauldron was big enough to feed ten thousand persons and that after each meal, a young monk had to use an ox to drag away the rice crust. That, of course, was an exaggeration.

Another legend concerns Monk Lu Zhishen, who was fond of eating meat and drinking wine in defiance of religious discipline. His trouble-making exploits are related in the classic Chinese novel The Outlaws of the Marsh or The Water Margin.

Tayuan Monastery

Tayuan Monastery is located west of Prominence Monastery. An enormous white dagoba stands out in prominence among a cluster of temples and a grove of trees. It is regarded as the signpost of Mount Wutai. The dagoba is fifty meters high and hung with 250 bells that jingle pleasantly in the breeze.

Luohou Temple

This lamaist temple is located east of Prominence Monastery. First built in the Tang Dynasty and expanded during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is one of the best-preserved monasteries on Mount Wutai. On June 14 of the lunar calendar, believed to be the birthday of the Bodhisattva Wisdom, one of his disciples, Luo Hou, is said to have danced a "ghost dance" to mark his birthday. Thereafter, on that day, monks performed a masked dance from dawn to dusk to the rhythmic beating of cymbals and drums.

Buddha's Halo Monastery (Foguansi)

This monastery is located thirty-two kilometers northeast of Wutai County. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, a cluster of halls and pavilions is set amidst a grove of pines and cypress trees. The monastery was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and had its zenith in the Tang Dynasty plays an important role in the history of architecture. Sculptures, murals, stone buildings, gravestones, and white marble statures of the Tang dynasty represent the then highest achievement of Buddhist art.

Nanchan Monastery

This monastery is located twenty-two kilometers southwest of Wutai County. It is the oldest existing monastery of wooden structure dating from the Tang Dynasty. The monastery includes a gate, hall of the Dragon King (Longwangdian), Great Buddha (Dafodian), Hall of Bodhisattva (Pusadian), and other fine examples of ancient timber construction. On display at eh monastery are lifelike color sculptures comparable in style to those in Dunhuang in China' northwestern province of Gausu.

(china.org.cn)


Below are some pictures of Mount Wutai: