Hall of Eminent Monks
2020-01-22 00:29 | Hits: 492
From: Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple Author: Office
2020-01-22 00:29 | Hits: 492
From: Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple Author: Office
How many kings of the
Kingdom of Dali have abdicated and converted to Buddhism? Some say ten
and some say ten. There are 9 4m-high figures in the Hall of Eminent
Monks. Why did the nine kings decide to become monks? It was probably
due to the unification of the state and the Buddhism popular in the
Kingdom of Dali. But there were also another four reasons for that as
follows:
Firstly, the kings failed in the fights over power and were thus forced to become a monk. (e.g. Duan Siliang)
Secondly, their reign was not stable, so they had to quit the governess. (e.g. Duan Zhengyan)
Thirdly, the dictatorship made the people unsatisfied and they had to quit. (e.g. Duan Shouhui, Duan Zhengming)
Fourthly, it was the
convention of Dali. “When the new king is enthroned, the former king
should abdicate and become a monk in order to reassure the public.”The
nine kings were:
Duan Siying: the 2nd king of Dali
Duan Sufeng: the 8th king of Dali
Duan Suzhen: the 9th king of Dali
Duan Silian: the 11th king of Dali
Duan Shouhui: the 13th king of Dali
Duan Zhengming: the 14th king of Dali
Duan Zhengchun: the 15th king of Dali, the father of Duan Yu, one of the heroes in Tianlongbabu written by Jin Yong
Duan Zhengyan: the 16th king of Dali, also the prototype of Duan Yu, one of the heroes in Tianlongbabu written by Jin Yong
Duan Zhengxing: the 17th king of Dali