Page 59 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

CHINESE MYTHOLOGY. 27

The Three Precious Ones.
Buddhist seated on three
figures, cross-legged lotus-shaped
and side some to
pedestals, ranged by side, are said by repre-
sent Buddha Past, Buddha Present, Buddha Future but at
;
p. 300, Mayers gives the following : " The Trinity of the
in Buddha, Dharma
Buddhist belief, consisting and
(the law),
Sangha (the congregation of believers). These three are
symbolized by images to which worship is addressed in Buddhist
These are often of size, and seem
temples." images great
always to be covered with gilt.
Many of the Buddhist figures we meet with on china, as on
No. 243, are intended to a rather
probably represent principle
"
than an individual ; for Gutzlaff, vol. ii. p. 220, tells us, Who-
ever strives to conform to the institutions of Budhuism,
strictly
and makes donations for the of
large building temples, may
become a Budhu himself."
The Eighteen Arhats in Chinese " Law-han."
"
354 of the immediate of
Mayers, p. : Eighteen disciples
Buddha or These
(arhat meaning deserving, worthy). images
are placed in attendance upon those of Buddha in Chinese
temples."
They do not appear often upon porcelain, and when met
with, it is generally singly, or in small groups. Originally
there seem only to have been sixteen, of which the following
description is taken from Anderson, p. 46 ; of the two more
modern, none of the English writers seem to give any account
beyond the quotation from the same author given under
Nos. 17 and 18:—
—
1. Pin tu lo poh lo to slid. An aged man seated upon a
rock by the seashore, holding tablets (?) and a short fly-brush.
2. Chia noh chia fa tfsho. — Usually seated in a priestly
chair, holding a long fly-brush.
3. Poh li to sho. — Holds a manuscript roll ; an acolyte
standing by his side strikes a bowl-gong.
4. Su tho.— Seated a mat, hands folded
pin upon upon
knees.
—
5. Noh Chu na Seated a
(or lo), upon priest's chair,
holding a rosary.