130 



z/that it may reach the Heavenly Ruler who bestows happiness, and the suprème Lao-kiun. ( l ) 

 „We pray, also, to the Budha of the western Heaven; to the perfect Budhas Shih-kia ( 2 ) and 

 „Ju-lai ( 3 ); to Amida Budha; to the most merciful and most gracious goddess Kwan-sM-yin ( 4 ); to 

 z/the four suprème Heavenly kings ( 5 ), and to the diamond-accomplished Badhas ( G ); to the 

 z/eighteen Zo-kan (7); to the venerable first sage Tah-mo ( 8 ). We pray, also, to the Suprème Ruler 



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m m m * ^ m> ra * %■ ï. & w 



X#. + AI*. ftifil 0o ff 



( 2 ) Lao-kiun, commotily called Lao-tsz, tlie founder of the doctrine of Tao r He was bom B. C. 604 in ilie 

 kingdom of Tsu, now the provïnce of Hu-pek. His doctrine is exposed ia his book „ Memoir of the road 

 and virtue" (jjjt 4Ëj^ ■^■)* translated by St, Julien. 



( 2 j Sakya-muni, the Excellent. He was born on the eighth day of the fourth month B. C. 1029. His father 

 was Sudwodani, king of Kapila , in central India, and his mother was called Maya. He died in his 

 eightieth year, near the river Batei, in Benares, B. C. 949. (See the Nippon Archiv). 



( 3 ) Ju-lai, sanscr. Tathdyata, a perfect Budha , commonly called in Chinese To-pao-ju'lai I ^> ^p "hfj 3fc L 

 Mauy-preciosa perfect Budha. His name Ju-lai means „the thus gone", i. e. who has definitely quitted 

 relative, to enter upon absolute existence, or nirvana. (Bemusat.) 



( 4 ) Kwan-shi-yin is the Chinese translation of the sanscrit name AvaloHteswara. The Chinese, however, 

 have translated „ voice, sound" (sanscr. swara) instead of „Lord" (sanscr. iswara). The name ought 

 to be written Kwan-Uz-tsai ( W& ÉJ ^E )j or K^an-shi-chu i ^@ 4f£ £jr ), the world-con- 

 templating Lord. The Chinese always think this Bodhisattwa to be a woman, as he is represented in 

 the shape of a very effeminate-looking youth. 



( 5 ) To-wan-thian (^ ^ !^C/} ff The renowned God", (sanscr. Vai&ravand): the God of wealth, king 



of the North. 



Chi-facoh-thian-wang (fêz |||| ^P -P )t «The state-maintaining Heavenly king", king of the East. 



Tsang-chang-thian-icang (^ ^ ^ 3l)j //The Heavenly king of the growth", (sanscr. Virü 



ff aha), ruler of the South. 



Ewang-mnh-thian-wang ( J|f |=J ^ Ji)l " tlie big-eyed Heavenly king;" he rules the sinners and 



only releases those who repent themselves. (Sanscr. Viru pdJccha). He rules the West. 



( 6 ) The sentinels at the gates of Budhist temples, supposed to represent the Gods Br alma and Ndrdjana. 



( 7 ) Sanscr. Arlian .• the eighteen principal disciples of Budha. 



( b ) i. e. Dharma, one of the three precious-ones : Budha, Dharma, Sanga; the suprème Triad. According to 

 Chinese ideas Budha signifies intelligence, being neither void nor being. Dharma means the laio, therule 

 of natural virtues. Sanga means the united land, indicating that the natural virtlies are never separated, 

 but always united. (Landresse). 



