On February 19th of the lunar calendar, Guanyin will commemorate and celebrate Guanyin, one of the four great Buddhists. She showed great compassion among the four great bodhisattvas and was the only woman. Her mount is the marquis of Jin, and she is Amitabha's left attendant. In the folk activities of Buddhist belief in China, Guanyin Bodhisattva has three celebrations every year: Christmas Day on February 19, Enlightenment Day on June 19, and Sunrise on September 19. This is unique among the four great bodhisattvas.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's name in Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures is Avalakitevara, transliterated as "Ahern Luzhi Emperor Shivalo". There are many free translations of Buddhist scriptures in China: Zhu Fahu translated into "Voice of the World", Kumarajiva translated into "Voice of the World", Xuanzang Master Award was newly translated into "Guan Zi", and others translated into "Holy Guanyin" and "Guan Zi". At present, the most popular translation is Guanyin, which is related to the spread of Pumenpin on Beijing TV. It is said that during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, the owner of Beiliang, Ju Qumengxun, suddenly got a strange disease, and many doctors were at a loss. Dharmaksema, an Indian monk, advised him to recite the Bodhisattva-level Guanyin Bodhisattva sincerely. It is really a strange disease that heals without medicine. Since then, the whole country has been fighting for "popular goods." The translated name of the popular product is "Guanyin", so the name of the "Guanyin" bodhisattva spread rapidly.
Why is this bodhisattva called "Guanyin"? There are many explanations in Buddhist scriptures, and there are two common sayings: First, it is mentioned in the Shurangama Sutra that the bodhisattva's initial practice method is round ears: the ears don't smell the outside, but the inside, so it will not be moved by the outside world, nor will it be annoyed by greed, anger and delusion because of admiration and slander, so it can achieve "two movements, knowing that it is not born." Secondly, "Pumenpin" said: "Ruojin is like all sentient beings, suffering from all kinds of troubles. When he hears that he is a Guanyin Bodhisattva, he is liberated and calls his name wholeheartedly." Avalokitesvara has spared no effort to find a voice to save suffering, so she is always ready to respond and is naturally worshipped by ordinary people. Her full name has also been changed to "Great Compassion and Mercy Guanyin Bodhisattva", referred to as "Great Compassion and Mercy Guanyin Bodhisattva". In the Tang Dynasty, in order to avoid the taboo of Emperor Taizong and Li Shimin, the word "world" was omitted, which was called Guanyin for short. The worship of Guanyin is very popular in China. All Buddhist temples must worship Guanyin, and most temples have independent Guanyin halls for worship. In addition, there are a large number of buddhist nun dedicated to Guanyin and a world-famous Guanyin Dojo-"Putuo Mountain" all over the country.
In fact, according to the Lu Hua Sutra, Guanyin's Dojo is located in Buju Luojiashan in southern India. It was here that the twenty-eighth member of the fifty-three members of Lucky Boy visited Guanyin. At that time, the image of Guanyin Bodhisattva was a gentleman, a man rather than a woman. After Buddhism was introduced into China, it gradually became China, and Guanyin began to change from male to female, which was welcomed and worshipped by female Buddhists. Guanyin Dojo, originally located in southern India, was also moved by China people to a small island called "Mei Cen Mountain" in Zhoushan Islands, Zhejiang Province. This is because during the Taikang period of the Western Jin Dynasty (280-289), monks who moved south came here and founded the Guanyin Dojo. Later, in the first year of the Tang Dynasty, an Indian monk burned his finger in Yin Chao Cave and saw Guanyin say this with his own eyes. During the Five Dynasties (Tang Dynasty), Hua Hui, a Japanese monk, invited a Guanyin statue from Wutai Mountain to worship in Japan. He encountered a strong wind here, and was ordered by the Bodhisattva to send the Guanyin statue ashore, and made a "refusal to go to Kannonji". All kinds of legends are closely related to Guanyin, and Putuo Mountain naturally formed the Dojo of Guanyin.
Since the Song Dynasty, the North Island has been called "Bubi Luojiashan", that is, "Xiaobai Huashan" in Chinese, "Nanhai Putuo" in Ming and Qing Dynasties, "Putuo Mountain" in this island after liberation, and "Luojiashan" in another nearby island. The change of "Meicen Mountain" to "Putuo Mountain" is the homonym of "Buluojia Mountain".
Since then, Guanyin Bodhisattva has been closer to the people of China. "Amitabha Buddha in every household, Guanyin Bodhisattva in every household", Guanyin Bodhisattva is a household name in China, and is well known to all women and children.
Every year, the commemoration of Guanyin Bodhisattva is always grand and lively, the most prominent of which is the Guanyin birthday party on February 19. On this day, all the major monasteries are crowded with good men and women, burning incense and worshipping Buddha, chanting and releasing, and there are many sacrificial activities. It is said that in Lin 'an (now Hangzhou), a metropolis in the late South, Guanyin's birthday on February 19 coincides with three days after the traditional flower festival in Hangzhou, which is the time when Hangzhou people are in full bloom in spring. On this day, the road is full of good men and women who burn incense and flower sellers. Tianzhu Temple, in particular, is crowded with people, worshipping Buddha, enjoying flowers and stepping on the spring, and gradually formed a temple-centered market activity. It is said that this is the formation of Tianzhu Fragrant City. Up to now, the Jade Buddha Temple, Huayou Temple, Jing 'an Temple and other major temples in Shanghai have dispatched police to help maintain order on this day. Not to mention the incense party in Putuo Mountain on February 19. Preparations for the grand incense party began a few days ago, reaching a climax on 18 and 19.
Every temple on Mount Putuo will hold a grand ceremony. 18 night, even more brilliant. Good men and women sit on the floor, and it is already dark. When the clock struck zero, the noisy voice suddenly became quiet. Then someone began to speak, and a melodious chanting rose spontaneously, flying over the temple and swaying in the valley, which was fascinating. At this time, on the mountain road leading to Huiji Temple, the highest peak temple in Putuo Mountain, there are still people who don't come here, and some people kowtow in three steps and five steps while walking. The incense sticks inserted on the stone peaks on both sides of the mountain road look like small sparks winding up from a distance, which is very spectacular. It is said that in this sea of believers, there are many overseas Chinese and foreign Chinese, as well as foreign Buddhists from Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Believers from all over China who go to Mount Putuo to worship are particularly enthusiastic and endless. The South China Sea makes Guanyin incense more and more prosperous and enduring. Putuo Mountain has become the contemporary Guanyin International Dojo.
Guanyin's Christmas activities are not limited to Han areas, but also celebrated by Dai and Bai people in Yunnan and Guizhou. Dai people who believe in Southern Buddhism, on Guanyin's birthday, men, women and children will gather together to worship Buddha and chant Buddhist scriptures, and then carry Guanyin statues around villages. On this day, everyone drank, sang and danced to celebrate Guanyin's birthday. Dali Bai people still have a special feeling for Guanyin Bodhisattva. Among the four famous scenic spots in Dali, Cangshan Snow, Xiaguan Wind and Erhai Moon are all related to the legend of Guanyin. According to local legend, a long time ago in Dali, there was an evil Luo Cha who ate people, especially the eyes of his only son. People hate it, but there is nothing they can do. At this time, Guanyin Bodhisattva became an old monk, subdued Luo Cha with divine power, killed the people, and then drove away in colorful clouds. Dali people are very grateful. They built a temple on the square stone at the mouth of Shangyang River under Diancang Mountain, where Guanyin was hidden. On April 25th of the lunar calendar, a Guanyin meeting was held in Shangyangxi to commemorate the day when Luo Cha was defeated. The place where Guanyin Bodhisattva signed a contract with Luo Cha when she regained Pingba was called Guanyin Street, also called Guanyin Street or Moon Street (now called March Street). Since then, the Bai people have held a grand gathering to burn incense and pay homage to Guanyin on February 19. In this way, the Guanyin Festival on February 19 has become a major national belief festival for local people.