Page 124 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols
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e young maiden has since then became an accomplished
Bodhisattva through her great acts of merits and is now known
as Ti Tsang P’usa.
Ti Tsang P’usa has often been mistakened by uninformed
Buddhists to be Mogallana who was a disciple of Sakyamuni
Buddha, because he too had a similar experience of descending
to the Hell Realm to seek and save his mother. e stories may
sound similar but they happened at different times and adopted
quite different methods to save their mothers.
Many others also tend to relate Ti Tsang as the Hsuan Tsang,
the famous Tripitaka master of the Tang Dynasty who made the
harzadous journey to the West to seek the Buddhist scriptures.
is is mainly due to the Sangha robe and the five-leaf crown
which both are seen to wear.
As the “Regent of Hell” Ti Tsang P’usa is again taken by many
to be “Yen-Lo-Wang” or Yama, the “OverLord of Hell”. It must
be mentioned that Ti Tsang is a Bodhisattva and not a mere
King of the Fifth Hell. He does not judge the souls of the dead
but seeks to save them from the punishment inflicted on them
by the Kings of Hell.
escription of i sang ’usa
Ti Tsang may be represented sitting or standing. He always has
a kind and benevolent look and carrying either, or both, his
