Behind China¡¯s Hindu temples, a forgotten history

[Gautam]

Most of Chinese are familiar with the Buddhism, but technically they are not Buddhists in practice, since the Buddhism is more ideology than religion.

Ok thanks. So Buddhist philosophy in not in majority. I thought otherwise.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Even in its original form, Buddhism was more of a philosophy than a religion.

Interesting fact: According to the story, the Monkey King's Golden Staff (the one that can grow or shrink at will) weighed around 8.5 metric tons.

Which version of the Monkey King you prefer? I saw two versions of the Mainland made in 2010 and 2011 respectively, both were crap compared to the 1986 version.

Not to show off the new Hollywood-Style special effect and stunt, the acting performance and the connotation are more important than anything else.

As for the HK version, i think ATV could do a much better job than TVB, since the TVB version has too much soap opera influence on it.

Ok thanks. So Buddhist philosophy in not in majority. I thought otherwise.

The Socialist philosophy for politics, while the Buddhist philosophy for daily life, i hope my answer could make you happy.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Which version of the Monkey King you prefer? I saw two versions of the Mainland made by 2010 and 2011 respectively, both were crap compared to the 1986 version.

Not to show off the new Hollywood-Style special effect and stunt, the acting performance and the connotation is more important than anything else.

As for the HK version, i think ATV could do a much better job than TVB, since the TVB version has too much soap opera influence on it.

I agree. The older ones are usually better anyway.

Imagine being hit with the 金箍棒 though, that Staff weighs 8.5 tons... ouch.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I agree. The older ones are usually better anyway.

Imagine being hit with the 金箍棒 though, that Staff weighs 8.5 tons... ouch.

TVB is better at the Wuxia-Style, but when it comes to the Monkey King, the old Mainland version has the right feeling.

 

[xuxu1457]

@Chinese friends:
How many percentage of Chinese population practice Buddhism?

May be 100million, but nerely no one is really devout believer, religion plays a little role even for a believer, religions are seen as thinking manners, 3 main think manners "儒释道"--Confucianism， Buddhism，Taoism,

Confucianism dominates people's real-life style, even it's not a religion, but a main role in East Asia for about 2400 years，such as "天地君亲师"--important honor list"sky, earth, country,parents,teachers"; "敬鬼神而远之"--“Just give every gods and ghosts honor, but keep a distance(real man can't be controled by gods or ghosts, if you upstanding in your heart )”; As a people, what he should do is "修身，齐家，治国，平天下"---“self-cultivating，family-regulating，state-ordering，then the land great governed”

Buddhism，Taoism two spirite think manner, but only in spirit hard to reach real life, Buddhism is seen as penance, suffering this life, afterlife beatified; Taoism is seen as individual freedom, independent;Chinese are know well about these two, and at most time the two are combined together.

 

[Star Wars]

@Chinese-Dragon

I just started reading about the Naraka on wiki after reading your posts ....... am gonna be a good boy from now onwards

 

[Cherokee]

In Secondary School I did a whole project myself on Buddhism.

Funnily enough, my parents who refer to themselves as Chinese Buddhists did not know a lot of basic Buddhist principles from the original theology, though they got the bigger picture. Reincarnation, different planes of existence, cause and effect, etc.

The underworld/afterlife in Chinese mythology is nothing like the Abrahamic idea of "You either go to Heaven permanently, or you go to Hell permanently". With no middle ground.

It is based on Buddhist cosmology, where the underworld was simply a "passing through" point, and based on your karma you could be reincarnated into a higher plane (Heaven/Tian, where the Shen/Devas live) or lower planes (Realm of Hungry Ghosts, or even the Hell planes). And it is ruled by King Yama.

The famous Chinese Triad film "Infernal Affairs"... its name in Chinese means "The never-ending way" (無間&#36947. Which is the Chinese term for Avici, which is the lowest of the Hell realms in Naraka.

I feel that reincarnation is much more forgiving and reasonable than permanent Heaven or Hell depending on what you believe in. Reincarnation gives you second chances. Even Avici is not permanent, there is still a chance of getting out.

ENglish dub , watch online link ??

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

@Chinese-Dragon

I just started reading about the Naraka on wiki after reading your posts ....... am gonna be a good boy from now onwards

That's the great thing about Dharmic cosmology.

Reincarnation means you always have a second chance.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

ENglish dub , watch online link ??

I'm on my smartphone, so I don't know if this is good enough quality or not, but it should be decent enough:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jlZZRBWEj0

Cantonese with English subtitles.

 

[Yogi]

That's the great thing about Dharmic cosmology.

Reincarnation means you always have a second chance.

basically Dharmic religions r based on ways to end the cycle of reincarnation n achieving Moksa.
btw do u know that the ruler of hell in Hinduism is called "Yamraj", "Raj" basically symbolises ruler or king. So. its actually quite similar name of ur hell ruler King Yama.

 

[ApparentRaceTraitor]

That's the great thing about Dharmic cosmology.

Reincarnation means you always have a second chance.

Sad though how many people take advantage of that in their personal lives as in "Oh i can be a bit naughty today, who cares, my slate will be wiped clean in the next life". Thankfully karma can be a delightful vengeful little vixen

 

[Arya Desa]

basically Dharmic religions r based on ways to end the cycle of reincarnation n achieving Moksa.
btw do u know that the ruler of hell in Hinduism is called "Yamraj", "Raj" basically symbolises ruler or king. So. its actually quite similar name of ur hell ruler King Yama.

It's the exact same person because we call him Yama too (Pronounced Jam)

 

[Contrarian]

Well Buddhism and Hinduism are part of the same religious tradition.

So I guess it was easy for them to accept this goddess as another avatar of Guanyin.

Not just part of the same religious tradition.

Hinduism is very vast, accommodates multiple philosophies that appear to be even contradictory to each other - from monotheism, polytheism to even atheism!

Budhism is considered a subset of Hinduism by some and country cousin by others.