When Buddhism entered China, Maitreya took on Chinese characteristics and quickly became popular among the people. Popular folk legend depicts his image as a smiling Buddha with a large and exposed belly. This image is modeled on the appearance of Qi Ci (契此), a monk of the Liang State (梁朝) during the Five Dynasties. Qi Ci was from Fenghua (奉化) in Zhejiang Province, and his nickname was the Cloth-bag Monk. Legend has it that he carried a large cloth bag on his tin cane while traveling around. Into this bag he put all the alms given by people and redistributed them to other people in need. The masses of people deeply appreciated his kindness and honored him as the reincarnation of Maitreya. During the subsequent dynasties, the Maitreya statues seen in monasteries differ entirely in appearance from other Buddhist images, and was imbued with strong Chinese characteristics. A couplet inscribed outside the Maitreya Hall of Hongchun Monastery (洪椿坪) on Mt. Emei reveals the strong influence of Chinese culture and ethics. It says,“My face reveals my true nature; my belly shows my generosity and tolerance to others.”
Notes：1）descend下来；2）ascend登高；3）caste种姓；4）Bra-hman婆罗门；5）expose使接触到；6）nickname绰号；7）inscribe题写；8）generosity宽宏大量；9）tolerance宽容
9.观音菩萨是谁？
Who is Guanyin?
According to the Buddhist classics, Guanyin (观音菩萨) was the first son of the Holy King in charge of reincarnation. He has many followers and is considered the most well-known Bodhisattva in China. Guanyin has 33 various names and images, including an image with 1,000 hands, an image with 11 faces, and an image with 48 arms. Legend has it that when Buddhist followers are in trouble, Guanyin will come and help them if they recite his name single-mindedly. Therefore, Guanyin serves as the Bodhisattva of perfect compassion and kindness, helping the needy and relieving the distressed. His infinite Buddhist power is known in every household due to the popularity of the famous Chinese literary classic, Journey to the West. Guanyin is omnipotent and is said to have the power to bless women with male children in accord with customary Chinese saying“More Children, More Joy.”Consequently, he is extremely popular among the Chinese women. Since the Tang Dynasty, Guanyin became a female bodhisattva, the only female figure among numerous manifestations of Buddha. This is unique in Chinese Buddhism and reflects Chinese characteristics.
In monasteries in the region inhabited by the Han nationality, the figure of Guanyin usually sits in meditation holding a vial, with one leg crossed and the other leg hanging downwards. Large monasteries generally have a separate hall for Guanyin, but some monasteries place Mahasthamaprapta (大势至) and Amitabha together with Guanyin in the same hall. The three are called“The Three Western Sages (西方三圣).”
In China, Buddhism and Daoism co-exist and interact in a harmonious way, and Daoism include some Buddhist images in the list of Daoist deities. Guanyin is, for example, worshiped in Daoist temples as Cihang Priest (慈航道人， Daoist Priest Dispensing Mercy).
Notes：1）single-mindedly专心地；2）compassion怜悯；3）relieve减轻；4）distress使悲痛；5）omnipotent有无限权力的；6）cu-stomary习惯上的
10.地藏菩萨是谁？
Who is Dizang?
According the Buddhist classics, during the period from the Nirvana of Sakyamuni to the advent of Maitreya, Dizang Bodhisattva (地藏菩萨) vows to save all beings from suffering in the Six Paths (ie. Hell, Ghost, Animal, Man, Asura and Deva). He vows not to achieve Buddhahood until all the Hells are empty, and is thus therefore referred as the King of Hell.
In China, the image of Dizang has taken on Chinese characteristics. Chinese legend has it that he was born into a noble family in a state on the Korean peninsula, and his name was Jin Qiaojue (金乔觉). After he became a monk, he made a trip to the Tang Empire, and during the Xuanzong Period (玄宗年间) of the Tang Dynasty between 712 and 756, he practiced Buddhism on Mt. Jiuhua in Anhui. He passed away while sitting cross-legged, and his whole body, still intact and not decayed, was buried under a pagoda. Gradually Mt. Jiuhua came to be revered as the key site for Dizang to deliver Buddhism. Usually, Dizang is depicted holding a tin cane in his right hand and ruyi pearls (如意宝珠) in his left. The former hand gesture indicates that he protects sentient beings and subdues evil, while the latter indicates that he will satisfy all the wishes of sentient beings.
Notes：1）peninsula半岛；2）revere崇敬
11.文殊菩萨是谁？
Who is Wenshu?