Water Margin people

"This Liangshan City is so prosperous, why is the temple so shabby...?"

Duan Yu was puzzled when he looked at the simple temple. Everything in Liangshan City revealed prosperity, and the temple in front of him was totally inconsistent with the style of this city.

"Amitabha, thank you Master for clearing up my doubts."

An old woman walked out of the temple with a smile on her face, and spoke some Buddhist philosophy to the monk who had escorted her out.

"Peace and joy, benefactor, take care!"

A monk in linen robes walked her to the door and bowed to the old woman.

The old woman left happily, as if all her worries were gone.

When Duan Yu saw this, he immediately went back to the market and bought a lot of monk robes. Then he went back to the gate of Huanglian Temple, tidied his clothes and went in.

There were no novice monks welcoming guests at the temple gate, which made Duan Yu even more confused. What kind of temple was this? In the temples in Dali, there were people greeting guests as soon as they entered.

Duan Yu stood in the yard and realized that the temple was not small. Only the gate was small, but the temple architecture was still very ordinary.

"Amitabha, I am honored to meet you. Are you here to burn incense and pray for blessings, or to answer your questions?"

After Duan Yu waited for a long time, he was finally discovered by a novice monk, who came over to bow and greet him.

"I am from another place. I have been worshipping Buddha since I was young. I came to Liangshan City and wanted to go to the temple to worship Buddha. That's why I came to the temple. I brought some monk's clothes and shoes with me. I want to pray and worship Buddha. But I don't know what the story of this Huanglian Temple is?"

Duan Yu looked at the novice monk and asked.

"If you want to have your doubts answered, you can go to the inner hall. Master Dao Ji is in the hall today!"

The novice monk bowed to Duan Yu.

Duan Yu saw that the novice monk was young and knew that he could not answer Yu's doubts, so he followed the novice monk into the inner hall.

Unlike ordinary temples, the layout of Huanglian Temple is also different from other temples. There are no normally arranged halls for Buddha and Bodhisattva.

“What temple is this?”

Duan Yu was very familiar with temples, and he had never seen such a simple temple.

"Amitabha, benefactor, that is Master Daoji who is sitting in the hall today!"

The young monk brought Duan Yu to a larger hall and pointed at Dao Ji who was beating a wooden fish and chanting scriptures.

At this time, Dao Ji was beating a wooden fish and chanting scriptures, and behind him, there were many people and monks sitting on cushions and chanting along.

"Master Daoji? Is that the Master Daoji who traveled west to India and spread Buddhism?"

Duan Yu's face was full of surprise. He was looking for the temple just to meet this contemporary monk who was comparable to Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty.

"Yes!"

The young monk replied.

"I wonder who the master is?"

Duan Yu looked at the young monk and asked, Dao Ji was leading people in chanting scriptures, so he naturally couldn't disturb them.

"I am only here to practice. I have not yet taken the tonsure and do not intend to become a monk, so I cannot answer the donor's questions."

The little monk smiled and took off his hat, revealing his short hair.

This is the most popular hairstyle for men in Qi State in the past two years. It spread from the army. At the beginning, some people opposed it, believing that the hair on the body is given by parents and they dare not damage it. It is the beginning of filial piety.

But this statement was not accepted by the people, because the emperor also had short hair, loyalty came before filial piety, and the so-called filial piety had to give way.

As soon as short hair became popular, it was immediately welcomed by ordinary people. Short hair is refreshing and does not require much care, which is very comfortable for men who need to bear most of the family responsibilities. Now only some wealthy people have long hair. They have a good family background and do not have to work. Their hair is taken care of by servants. However, the younger generation does not like long hair anymore because they think it is troublesome.

"Just practicing?"

Duan Yu was very surprised. Is there anyone in this temple who has not shaved his head and practiced Buddhism? In Dali, being shaved head and practicing Buddhism is an honor. It is also common for emperors to become monks. Even many important matters and decisions have to be decided by the monks.

"Yes!"

The little monk left after saying this.

Duan Yu was listening to the chanting outside the door. He was not familiar with the scriptures, and they did not seem to be the more widely circulated ones.

"What is this? His Majesty the Emperor!"

Duan Yu looked around and suddenly saw that the Buddha statue in the hall was actually the emperor, not the most common Buddha and Bodhisattva.

“Is this the emperor’s dojo?”

Duan Yu had a guess in his mind that temples would not worship all gods and Buddhas, but generally there would be a main god.

After the chanting was over, everyone stood up, bowed and left.

"Master Daoji, I am Duan Yu from Dali Tianlong Temple. I have come here specially to pay you a visit!"

Duan Yu bowed to Dao Ji. He was somewhat surprised by Dao Ji's appearance. He was wearing a very ordinary linen monk robe and had a kind face. He did not look like an abbot at all.

"Amitabha, I am Dao Ji, the poor monk, but I am from the Duan clan of Tianlong Temple!"

Dao Ji smiled and performed a Buddhist salute before speaking. He had also heard of Dali. Everyone there believed in Buddhism, including the royal family, and many emperors had become monks.

"Master Daoji, I heard that you went to India with the army, defeated a group of Indian monks in a debate at the waterway meeting, and brought back many Buddhist scriptures. I wonder if I can borrow them to read. Master, rest assured, I will definitely give you some money!"

Duan Yu looked at Dao Ji and said that one of the reasons why he came to Liangshan City in person this time was because of these Indian Buddhist scriptures. To a group of Buddhist fanatics, these things were sacred objects.

"Of course, the Buddhist scriptures can be borrowed. They are all palm leaf scriptures, but fortunately, they have been copied. If the donor likes them, you can copy one. As for the incense money, it is not necessary. The practice of monks lies in the body, mind and spirit, not in external things!"

Dao Ji shook his head at Duan Yu and said that he did not intend to treasure the Buddhist scriptures. In his mind, Buddhist scriptures were for people to read and read. If they were treasured or priced at an exorbitant price, the Buddhist scriptures would become commodities and would lose their meaning.

"This……"

Duan Yu looked at Dao Ji in surprise. Buddhism has always accepted offerings from believers, so why did Dao Ji refuse?

"Master, your Huanglian Temple is in such a state of disrepair that I'm afraid no believers will come. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha. Your..."

"By the way, why are you worshipping the statue of His Majesty the Emperor? And it's made of clay. This is inappropriate. I am willing to pay for a rebuilt statue!"

Duan Yu looked at Dao Ji and said, temples also need a facade. People in the world are vulgar and only look at the surface of things. If a temple is magnificent, it will be prosperous, but if it is run-down, it will be deserted.

"So that's what you think. You are far away in Dali, so I'm afraid you don't know your Majesty's attitude towards religion."

Dao Ji looked at Duan Yu and asked.

"I haven't heard of this. Our Dali Kingdom was annexed by Qi Kingdom only last year, and we have been suppressing rebellions ever since."

Duan Yu shook his head. He really hadn't paid attention to these things, and the emperor didn't seem to mention these things today.

"As a fellow Buddhist, I have a few words to say to Mr. Duan."

Dao Ji watched Duan Yu perform a Buddhist ceremony. The emperor naturally would not ask about these matters, as they were all busy with the officials below. Since Duan Yu didn't know, he would remind him.

"Master, please speak!"

Duan Yu quickly returned the greeting, just like a junior asking for advice from an elder. (End of this chapter)