Little Detective of the Tang Dynasty: What to do if you are beheaded at the beginning?

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty was located in Jinchangfang, a remote area, not near the eastern section of the Second Ring Road South Road as in later times.

Song Zhen and Cui Mengzhu took a carriage for half an hour and finally arrived near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

They looked up and saw that the tower was brand new and still so magnificent.

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the third year of Yonghui. It was built by Xuanzang to preserve the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back to Chang'an from India via the Silk Road.

Unlike later times, there are only five floors of the tower now, not seven.

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in Ci'en Temple. When the current emperor Li Zhi was still the crown prince, in order to commemorate his biological mother, Empress Changsun, and pray for her afterlife and repay her kindness, he petitioned Li Shimin to build a Buddhist temple, and Taizong named it "Ci'en Temple".

In the first year of Xianqing, Li Zhi personally wrote an "Inscription on the Great Ci'en Temple", and the name of the temple became "Great Ci'en Temple".

Speaking of which, Li Shimin never believed in Buddhism, and even hated it. He was a firm believer.

According to the "Zizhi Tongjian", he once said this.

"I do not follow Buddhism. Those who seek its way have not been blessed in the future, and those who practice its teachings have been wronged in the past."

To put it simply, he thought that what Buddhism advocated were all illusory things, and he sneered at it.

Not only him, but also Emperor Gaozu of Tang Li Yuan did not believe in Buddhism. He also issued an imperial decree to strictly control the number of temples across the country.

"Three temples will be left in the capital, one in each state, and the rest will be abolished."

There are historical reasons why Li Yuan and Li Shimin hated Buddhism and curbed Buddhism.

Because since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, monks did not have to pay taxes or serve in the military, which led to many lazy people to enter the Buddhist world to escape reality.

In addition, during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Buddhism was admired, and a large amount of manpower and material resources were spent on the uncontrolled construction of Buddhist buildings to support a group of monks who did not work.

The greater the religious power, the heavier the burden on the country and society.

Therefore, in "Journey to the West", Xuanzang was given the surname Tang and even named the emperor's younger brother, which is absolutely impossible in real history.

Li Shimin wanted all monks and nuns to return to secular life and go back to farming and serving as soldiers, so how could he allow you to seek Buddhist scriptures in the West and spread Buddhism?

It is true that Master Xuanzang sought Buddhist scriptures, but he did not have a pass and sneaked through the whole journey.

When he came back with a cart of scriptures, Li Shimin finally nodded and let him go for some reason.

However, starting from Li Zhi, the emperors of the Tang Dynasty believed in Buddhism again, and it was even more so during the Wu Zetian period.

As for why Li Zhi ordered people to carve the Buddha statue of Li Shimin in the Longmen Grottoes, it is probably a personal behavior. If Li Shimin were still alive, he would definitely slap him and curse him as a rebellious son!

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Song Zhen and Cui Mengzhu first came to Da Ci'en Temple, and the two of them devoutly lit incense.

In this era, there was no such thing as a merit box in Buddhism.

Because the monks were all supported by the court, they did not need money from the people to maintain their lives.

After Li Zhi came to power, Buddhism gradually flourished again.

Today, there are many people coming to Da Ci'en Temple, and the incense is curling.

"What wish did you make to the Buddha just now?" Song Zhen turned his head and asked Cui Mengzhu.

"I didn't make a wish."

"Then what are you mumbling?"

Cui Mengzhu smiled and said, "I am thanking the Buddha for letting us meet in the Tang Dynasty."

Influenced by her parents, she is a loyal Buddhist.

"What about you?"

Song Zhen whispered in her ear, "I just made a wish to Guanyin, hoping that the two of us will live a long life, have many children and blessings, and live a carefree life for the rest of our lives."

This made Cui Mengzhu's pretty face blush.

What do you mean by many children and many blessings? How many do you want to have?

Song Zhen stood up and saw that everyone around him was kneeling and bowing three times. It seemed that he was not sincere enough to stand and bow three times.

Forget it, I don’t believe in Buddhism anyway.

Cui Mengzhu’s sincerity is enough. We are one. Her blessing means that I will also be blessed.

After leaving, Song Zhen left ten taels of gold.

The little monk was shocked when he saw this. This was a super big customer, so he ran over and asked if the two had time to listen to Master Xuanzang’s Buddhist lectures and stay for a vegetarian meal.

Song Zhen asked Cui Mengzhu with his eyes, and when he saw her nod, he smiled and clasped his hands together to accept the invitation.

They were taken to the Dabianjue Hall in the back half of Daci’en Temple.

Duobao Buddha Palace is located behind Dayan Pagoda. It is a place where Buddhist monks and believers listen to Buddhist teachings.

Along the way, many monks greeted them with a friendly nod and clasped their hands. Song Zhen and Cui Mengzhu followed the local customs and returned the greetings.

Song Zhen and Cui Mengzhu finally met the real Master Xuanzang.

He was wearing a green shirt, elegant and refined, with a kind face and gentle eyes.He smiled and clasped his hands together and bowed.

Xuan Zang was born in 602. His real name was Chen Yi. He was from Luoyang Goushi. He should be 55 years old now, but he doesn't look old.

"Donor Song, Donor Cui."

After returning the greeting, Song Zhen asked curiously, "Master, how did you know our surnames?"

They never revealed their names to anyone along the way.

Xuan Zang smiled and pointed to the door, saying lightly, "I knew it when the donor came in."

I'm so surprised, so magical?

Xuan Zang smiled slightly, without explaining, looking like a master.

This posture made Song Zhen marvel.

"Two donors, please sit down."

Song Zhen and Cui Mengzhu knelt opposite Xuan Zang, and then two monks handed over a fruit plate.

"Master, we have come from Luoyang to pay homage to the Da Ci'en Temple."

Xuanzang smiled slightly and pointed to the fruit plate on the table: "Donor, please."

Song Zhen suddenly thought of the previous dream, so he put his hands together and bowed: "Master, I have always had a doubt, what is the previous life and what is the present life?"

Xuanzang thought for a while, and replied: "Donor, I don't understand your meaning. People definitely have previous lives, but ordinary people don't remember them when they are born."

"The Yogacarabhumi Sutra" mentions: What are the four kinds of entering the womb? One is to enter with right knowledge, and stay and leave without right knowledge; two is to enter and stay with right knowledge, and leave without right knowledge; three is to have right knowledge; four is to have no right knowledge. The first is the wheel-turning king, the second is the solitary enlightened one, the third is the bodhisattva, and the fourth is the rest of the sentient beings.

Song Zhen was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"The first is the wheel-turning king, who has memories of his past life when he enters the womb, but forgets them quickly in the womb, and has no memory of his past life after he is born."

"The second is the pratyekabuddha and the arhat, who have clear memories when they enter and stay in the womb, but know nothing after they are born."

"The third is the Buddha and the bodhisattvas above the eighth level, who have high vows and will not be lost when they enter, stay in, or leave the womb."

"The fourth is the common sentient beings, who are lost as soon as they enter the womb and cannot remember anything about their past life."

Song Zhen was dumbfounded, is it necessary to make it so mysterious?

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