Page 127 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

holds his precious flaming jewel with his left hand while the

ringed staff is held with the right, ever ready to force open the

gates of Hell with the staff and to dispel the darkness of the in-

fernal realm with his luminous gem.

Ti Tsang is at times depicted accompanied by a dog which also

has a significant meaning. On the death of his mother, the Bodhi-

sattva, known as “Sacred Girl”, hastened into the underworld with

the view of comforting her and to seek for favourable treatment.

However he could not find her whereabouts but later discovered

that she had already taken rebirth as a female dog. Upon his re-

turn to earth Ti Tsang soon traced and adopted the animal which

henceforth became his close companion on his pilgrimages.

Another popular depiction of him is in this standing or ‘activity-

form’ which has his left hand holding an alms bowl against his

navel, while his right hand forms the mudra (hand-sign) of “giv-

ing consolation and peace to all living beings”.

Ti Tsang P’usa has many emanations and he has manifested in

countless forms to save beings at different times and places. In

the Chinese Buddhist Pantheon his is the only figure in the

form of a monk. is is to indicate that Mahayana Buddhism is

suitable for both the monks and the laity.

Ti Tsang’s compassion is not practised exclusively for the benefit

of the beings of the hell realm, he also gives blessings to those

of the world who seek his help and he is a comforter of the poor,

oppressed, sick, hungry, and those who are troubled by spirits

 