This day was the winter solstice, and Zhu Yuanzhang took Zhu Yunwen and several of his children to Tianxi Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings.
Tianxi Temple is the first of the pagodas and temples in the south of the Yangtze River introduced earlier. It is the first temple in the south of the Yangtze River starting from Jianchu Temple in the Eastern Wu Dynasty. It is located in Changganli in the southwest corner of the capital. From the palace, go south along the imperial road, exit the capital through Jubao Gate, cross the Changgan Bridge over the Qinhuai River, and arrive at Yuhua Road.
It has been thousands of years since Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu Dynasty built the temple. This ancient temple has been built and destroyed several times, and the temple towers are quite old. The long stone steps outside the mountain gate have been smoothed and shiny by the footsteps of faithful men and women for thousands of years, as if to remind people of its long history. Zhu Yuanzhang stood in front of the mountain gate, looking at the looming Yangtze River in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh: "How many things have happened through the ages? Giving birth to a son should be like Sun Zhongmou!"
The Prince Consort of Meiyin who followed behind laughed and said, "Your Majesty! If Cao Cao had seen the great talents of these dozens of His Highnesses in civil and military affairs, he would never have said this."
Princess Ningguo quickly joined in the fun: "Xin Qiji's poem has been changed a long time ago. The word 'Who is the rival of the world's heroes? Cao Liu' is clearly 'The world's heroes are invincible, Lao Zhu!'".
Everyone laughed, and Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh: "You have such a mouth..."
At this time, Master Huiren, the abbot of Tianxi Temple, led his two eldest disciples, Xuanxin Xuanzhi, and the monks in the temple to greet him. Master Huiren was eighty years old at this time, with a silver beard fluttering on his chest, warm eyes and a red face. He was short and thin, and the red cassock he wore was somewhat dragged to the ground.
Hui Ren didn't care, and led everyone through the mountain gate and Tianwang Hall with a smile, then climbed a few more steps and entered the main hall.
The main hall of Tianxi Temple is dedicated to Sakyamuni Buddha. His hands are tied with Dharma seals, his expression is gentle and peaceful, his eyes are looking down, and he is sitting on a high lotus platform. Colorful auspicious clouds surround it, and the canopy on top is solemn and tasseled. In front of the altar, two disciples stand at attention. Moko Kasyapa is older and famous for his asceticism; Ananda is younger and has extraordinary appearance.
Sakyamuni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. His surname was Gautama and his given name was Siddhartha. Sakya is the name of his race, which means energy; Muni means "endurance" and "silence", which together means "nengren" and "nengji", which means "the saint of the Sakya clan". Sakyamuni Buddha was originally a prince of the Kapilavai Kingdom in northern India. He originally lived a comfortable and happy life. However, when he was sixteen years old, he saw the three sufferings of old age, sickness and death, and began to think about spiritual practice. After many years of arduous thinking such as becoming a monk, practicing asceticism, begging for food, etc., he finally became fully enlightened at the age of thirty. He sat cross-legged under a Bipala tree in Bodhgaya and became a Buddha. After that, he converted to Dharma for the first time and founded Buddhism. He lectured on the Sutra for forty-nine years and discussed the Sutra for more than 300 meetings. Respected as "Buddha".
The Buddha statues in the main hall of Tianxi Temple are very old, and the paint on the lapels and fingers of the Buddha statues has fallen off a little. After Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, he said to Hui Ren: "Abbott, I think these Buddha statues should be reshaped into golden bodies? Or should they be gilded?"
Hui Ren smiled and said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! The Buddha statue is an external image, so it's better not to be rigid." He actually declined.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little surprised and said no more. The group then visited the Guanyin Hall, Manjusri and Samantabhadra Hall, and finally went to pay homage to the Buddha’s parietal bone relic.
The Buddha's crown bone relic is enshrined in the underground palace of Shenggan Pagoda of Tianxi Temple and has never been shown to anyone. But the emperor wanted to pay homage, and Abbot Hui Ren had no choice but to obey. This is the first time it has been opened since it was enshrined in the underground palace in the Song Dynasty. Hui Ren didn't say anything, but Xuan Xin Xuan Zhi was a little uneasy.
After leaving the Puxian Hall, passing through the middle courtyard, the Great Zen Hall, the Dharma Hall, and the Patriarch Hall, you will find the backyard of Tianxi Temple. The Shenggan Pagoda stands tall in the courtyard, followed by the Sutra Storage Pavilion, Sutra Storage Gallery, Lunzang Hall, etc. and the back wall of the temple.
Huiren was old and walked with small and slow steps. Xuanxin and Xuanzhi looked carefully at him, fearing that he would fall. At this time, passing by a stone relic pagoda about two people high, Hui Ren introduced: "This is the Tripitaka Pagoda. Enshrined inside is the parietal bone relic of Master Xuanzang."
Zhu Yunwen asked curiously: "How did Master Xuanzang's relics end up in the south of the Yangtze River? Shouldn't it be in the Xingjiao Temple in Shaanxi? I heard that Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty personally inscribed the word "Xingjiao" on the relic pagoda of the Xingjiao Temple."
Hui Ren said: "Your Highness did not know something. Later, when the world was in chaos at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the monks of Xingjiao Temple took the risk to carry the master's bones to the Zige Temple in Zhongnan Mountain. Unfortunately, wars were frequent, and the master's bones could not be preserved in the mountain. .In the first year of Ruigong in the Zhao Song Dynasty, the abbot Fa Zheng of the temple came to Zhong Nanshan and found the parietal bone relic of the master in the dilapidated pagoda of the abandoned temple. The abbot personally carried it thousands of miles and returned it to our temple for worship."
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, Huiren added: "With the grace of God, the temple was able to build this Tripitaka Pagoda in the 19th year of Hongwu, and it has been enshrined since then. I remember that on the day it was enshrined, the late prince came to pay homage in person. People marvel.”
When Zhu Yunwen heard about his father, he couldn't help but feel sad, and his eye circles suddenly turned red. Zhu Yuanzhang was also a little sad and remained silent. Princess Ningguo, on the other hand, was impatient. She was a little anxious when she saw several people walking slowly while talking about old things. She and her consort Mei Yin were chattering, not knowing whether to complain or not. Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at her intentionally or unintentionally, and Princess Ningguo quickly stopped talking and became quiet.
At this time, few people would have thought that the parietal bone relics of Xuanzang in the Tripitaka Pagoda would be excavated by the Japanese invading army more than five hundred years later in 1943. After many twists and turns, they were distributed to various places and are now all over Asia. Zenjoji Temple, Ci'en Temple, and Nara Yakushi Temple in Tokyo, Japan; Xuanzang Temple in Taiwan, Xuanzang University in Hsinchu; Guangji Temple in Beijing, Liurong Temple in Guangzhou, Dabei Monastery in Tianjin, Wenshu Monastery in Chengdu, Daci'en Temple in Xi'an, and Lingling Temple in Nanjing Xuanzang's relics enshrined in Gu Temple and other temples are all divided from this. Indian Prime Minister Nehru specifically asked for a courtesy invitation during his visit to China. Premier Zhou Enlai instructed that a piece of Tianjin be divided again and escorted by the Dalai Lama to Nalanda Temple in India. It is a grand event in the history of diplomatic and Buddhist exchanges between China and India.
And all of this originates from the Tripitaka Pagoda in Tianxi Temple.
After passing the Sanzang Pagoda, turned a corner into the backyard, and arrived in front of the Shengguan Pagoda. This is a nine-story tower, about ten feet high, with bricks and stones connected to each other. Due to its age, a lot of grass has grown in the cracks between the bricks, and the ancient pagoda is also covered with moss, making it increasingly desolate in the cold wind. A few crows were looking around on the tower. When they saw the crowd approaching, they quacked and circled away.
Huiyuan led everyone into the main hall at the bottom of Shenggan Tower. Oil lamps were lit in the tower, but except for a small wooden gate that bowed in, there were no windows around, and the interior of the temple was extremely dark.
There were only a few wooden boards on the wooden gate, and the gaps seemed to be wider than the wooden boards. The cold wind blew in through the gaps, and the little light from the oil lamp flickered and swayed in the wind. It can be vaguely seen that there are a row of statues of eighteen Arhats built against the wall, either with kind facial features or kind eyes or with mighty courage. Under the shadow of the lamp, it was dark and dark, and waves of cold air hit my face. Princess Ningguo couldn't help but pull Mei Consort's sleeve.
Zhu Yunwen also felt the coldness penetrating his bones. He couldn't help but tighten his cloak before looking at the statue on the wall. At this moment, the emperor's grandson never imagined that this dilapidated and dark hall would witness his love journey, and he would come here countless times in the long years to come.
The floor of the main hall is made of bluestone, and it is equally cold. There is a small rectangular hole in the ground that seems to lead underground.
"What is this hole?" Princess Ning Guo asked quietly in Hui Ren's ear.
"This is the Qi Eye. It is to make the Buddha's relics come into contact with life." Hui Ren said: "This way the relics can maintain their spirituality better." After saying that he pressed it a few times somewhere, a bluestone slab on the ground opened. Hui Ren led the Everyone walked up another flight of stairs and descended to the underground palace. Then there were three stone gates in succession, with many mechanisms. Hui Ren and Xuan Xin Xuan Zhi discussed in low voices, tried left and right, and finally opened them.
As soon as the door opened, a burst of golden light dazzled. The Seven Treasures Asoka Pagoda is gilded and inlaid with treasures, standing in front of you, and the Buddha's bone relics are enshrined in the stupa. Hui Ren looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and decided that the pagoda would never be opened and could only be visited from across the pagoda. Zhu Yuanzhang understood the meaning in his eyes, frowned and said nothing.
This was the first time Zhu Yunwen saw the Seven Treasures Ashoka Pagoda, and he couldn't help but take a closer look: the gilded Seven Treasures Ashoka Pagoda is about three feet high and one foot wide, with a gilded silver outer layer and a wooden body underneath. The Tasha has a five-layer phase wheel, with a spherical orb on the top, and four mountain flowers and banana leaves located at the four corners of the top of the Xumizuo.
There are Buddhist scripture halls carved on the four sides of the pagoda base. Zhu Yunwen had been familiar with Buddhist scriptures since he was a child, and he knew four stories: "Sacrificing one's body to feed tigers", "Cutting meat and trading pigeons", "The Great Bright King's beheading" and "King Xudana's disguise". Thinking of these good deeds of Buddha, Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but sigh. (You may be familiar with the first word. Yes, Lotus used this word when she rejected Li Fangyuan on the mountain.)
Hui Ren finished paying homage, stood up and said solemnly: "What is enshrined in this pagoda is a parietal bone relic of the Buddha's true body, which was left behind after the Buddha Sakyamuni passed Nirvana. It is the supreme sacred object of my Buddhist sect."
Princess Ningguo asked curiously: "How many skulls does Buddha have? Isn't he from Tianzhu? How did it reach our dynasty?"
Hui Ren said: "Buddha Sakyamuni had a different appearance. The Buddha's parietal bone naturally bulged into a bun shape. It is called the invisible top appearance and is one of the thirty-two appearances of the Buddha. About 1,900 years ago After the Buddha Sakyamuni entered nirvana between two trees in Kushi City, Tianzhu, he was cremated and obtained a skull, two shoulder blades, four teeth, a middle finger bone relic and 84,000 bead-shaped relics. Yuxiang's surname The Brahmins were divided among the eight kingdoms including King Magadha, the kingdom of Bava, and the kingdom of Kavilavattva. Each of the eight kingdoms built a tower to make offerings."
Hui Ren saw that everyone was listening with rapt attention, and Zhu Yuanzhang also listened carefully, and continued with a smile: "A hundred years after the Buddha's death, King Asoka, the third generation king of the Maury Empire, unified Tianzhu and built more than 80,000 Buddhist temples around the world in order to promote Buddhism. The relics from the original eight pagodas were taken out and divided among the 80,000 pagodas. This relic on the top of the Buddha was first seen in Tianzhu when Master Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty traveled west to Tianzhu, and was recorded in the master's "Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty". Until In the first year of Longshuo in the Tang Dynasty, the envoy Wang Xuance went to Tianzhu and brought it back to the Tang Palace. In the Song Dynasty, the seven treasures were enshrined in the Asoka Pagoda and enshrined in the Shenggan Pagoda."
Princess Ningguo was a little excited: "So this is the only one in the world?"
"Yes, it is the only relic of the Buddha's crown. Together with the Buddha's tooth relic and the Buddha's finger relic, they are collectively called the three major relics." Hui Ren replied.
Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but ask: "Does the Buddha's relic have any efficacious effects?"
Hui Ren said: "Regarding the miraculous deeds of Buddha's relics, they have been circulated and seen frequently in ancient times. "The Biography of Eminent Monks" records that the Lord of Wu, Sun Quan, summoned Monk Kang and ordered a strong man to strike the relics with an anvil. The anvils collapsed but the relics were not damaged. Your Highness If you are familiar with the scriptures, you should know that the Dharani Sutra of Precious Siddhi Buddhahood says that the relics say, 'All spirits should always be guarded, and the life span will be extended for hundreds of years. At the end of life, it is decided to ascend to Shiduotian Palace to listen to the Dharma and love music. More If you follow your will, you will be reborn in the pure lands of the ten directions. The magic of the relics is really indescribable."
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and said nothing. Zhu Yuanzhang was thoughtful after hearing this.
You must know that Zhu Yuanzhang was over seventy at this time, and what he was most concerned about at this time was longevity or rebirth in the Pure Land. When Hui Ren said that the relics had such magical powers, he couldn't help but feel his heart beat. At that moment, he led the crowd to worship the Asoka Pagoda without moving his expression, thinking secretly in his heart.
Back in the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking about this matter, his face uncertain. Attendant Wang Zhi stood nearby. Seeing that the emperor was worried, he carefully asked softly: "Does your Majesty have any orders?"
Zhu Yuanzhang had never hesitated in his decision to kill all his life, but he hesitated a little at this moment: "I was at Tianxi Temple today and heard Hui Ren talk about the magical power of Buddha's relics." He looked at Wang Zhi and said, "I don't know whether it is true or not."
Wang Zhi understood the meaning as soon as he heard it and said with a smile: "Would you rather believe it? At least it won't do any harm."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed softly: "That's right. Buddha's miracles are always there and cannot be explained. It is also unknown whether he has supernatural powers."
Wang Zhi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the True Dragon Emperor, does not need external objects. On the contrary, the Buddhists have always wanted to follow the king's affairs. If the Buddha's relics can see your Majesty, then they will have a good relationship with Buddha."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "That is the true body relic of the Buddha, and it is the only skull relic. It is no small matter, not that simple."
Wang Zhi smiled and said: "Since Your Majesty attaches great importance to me, I will invite you first."
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "That old stubborn Hui Ren is so stubborn that he may not be willing to do it." He paused and said, "Today I asked him to re-gilt the Buddha statue, but he didn't want it."
Wang Zhi still smiled: "The whole world belongs to your Majesty, and Tianxi Temple naturally belongs to your Majesty." After a pause, he continued: "Master Hongyuan came here at noon today, but he didn't see His Majesty, so I gave him a cup of tea and sat for a while. I left, saying that I would come back to see the Holy One another day."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. Wang Zhi sighed: "Both are eminent monks, but Master Hongyuan and Master Huiren have very different personalities. They are much worse than the two in size."
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh when he thought that one of the two people, one tall and the other short, seemed to come from the legendary kingdom of giants and dwarves: "There are different personalities. Hongyuan and I have known each other since childhood, but they are different."
"It's true. Master Hongyuan often comes to visit the Holy Master and doesn't ask for anything." Wang Zhi helped Hongyuan.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "It depends on how respectful he has been that he only asks Yunwen to deliver holiday gifts on four festivals a year. Yunwen didn't say anything, so I guess he was a little disapproving."
Wang Zhidao: "The Holy One is doing it for His Highness's good, and he will understand."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "This kid has suddenly taken on big responsibilities in recent years. Although he is smart, he is still a bit immature. People like Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru, etc., he believes it when they say it."
Wang Zhi said: "Your Highness doesn't have any good friends. These are all friends. I heard that the Grand Concubine is also very mature and rarely talks to His Highness."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "Yes, when we decided on this marriage, we didn't expect that something would happen to the prince... His Highness was young at that time, so he just wanted to find someone to take care of him."
Wang Zhi comforted him and said, "Your Majesty has shown great concern for His Highness. His Highness has made great progress in the past few years. What's more, the lady who was granted the title is about to come to Beijing, which may relieve His Highness's loneliness."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled: "Yes, he has grown up a lot in recent years. Let's wait and see when this North Korean princess comes." After thinking about it, he said, "Don't say anything about the relics in advance. I will think about it again." Wang Zhi responded. promise.