Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279)
I introduce a Buddhist god named Jiedi, believed to be a personification of the renowned <i>gate</i> mantra in the <i>Heart Sūtra</i>. I argue for a complex genesis story where the transference of the <i>nāga</i>-taming function and aquatic setting from the rainma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/10/1303 |
| _version_ | 1797572410335035392 |
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| author | Zhaohua Yang |
| author_facet | Zhaohua Yang |
| author_sort | Zhaohua Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | I introduce a Buddhist god named Jiedi, believed to be a personification of the renowned <i>gate</i> mantra in the <i>Heart Sūtra</i>. I argue for a complex genesis story where the transference of the <i>nāga</i>-taming function and aquatic setting from the rainmaking spell in the <i>Great Cloud Sūtra</i> to the <i>Heart Sūtra</i> Mantra, coupled with its exegetical tradition emphasizing the soteriological metaphor of crossing, created an independent cult of the Jiedi Mantra. In battling chthonic snake spirits demanding virgin sacrifice in Sichuan, a regional variation of a cosmopolitan alchemical theme, the mantra was personified into a god associated with water and warfare. The exorcistic function of the mantra was the motor behind its apotheosis in Middle-period China. While he was elevated from a mere spirit to a <i>vidyārāja</i> (“wisdom king”) in tantric Buddhism, his cult was also disseminated in the Song, witnessing him provide broad deliverance in diverse areas such as industry, agriculture, infrastructure, military, and civil service. In late imperial China, he further imprinted himself on sacred geography, became a special class of warrior god, made inroads into Daoism and local religion, and proliferated in vernacular fiction and drama. An exotic Indian god was born on Chinese soil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:55:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a151b4df3c0c48d7bfd93a9b0dea5292 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:55:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-a151b4df3c0c48d7bfd93a9b0dea52922023-11-19T17:57:28ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-10-011410130310.3390/rel14101303Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279)Zhaohua Yang0Department of Religion, Columbia University, 80 Claremont Avenue, Room 307, New York, NY 10027-9610, USAI introduce a Buddhist god named Jiedi, believed to be a personification of the renowned <i>gate</i> mantra in the <i>Heart Sūtra</i>. I argue for a complex genesis story where the transference of the <i>nāga</i>-taming function and aquatic setting from the rainmaking spell in the <i>Great Cloud Sūtra</i> to the <i>Heart Sūtra</i> Mantra, coupled with its exegetical tradition emphasizing the soteriological metaphor of crossing, created an independent cult of the Jiedi Mantra. In battling chthonic snake spirits demanding virgin sacrifice in Sichuan, a regional variation of a cosmopolitan alchemical theme, the mantra was personified into a god associated with water and warfare. The exorcistic function of the mantra was the motor behind its apotheosis in Middle-period China. While he was elevated from a mere spirit to a <i>vidyārāja</i> (“wisdom king”) in tantric Buddhism, his cult was also disseminated in the Song, witnessing him provide broad deliverance in diverse areas such as industry, agriculture, infrastructure, military, and civil service. In late imperial China, he further imprinted himself on sacred geography, became a special class of warrior god, made inroads into Daoism and local religion, and proliferated in vernacular fiction and drama. An exotic Indian god was born on Chinese soil.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/10/1303Jiedi GodJiedi Wisdom KingOcean-Cleaving Jiedi GodJiedi Mantra<i>Heart Sūtra</i>human sacrifice |
| spellingShingle | Zhaohua Yang Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279) Religions Jiedi God Jiedi Wisdom King Ocean-Cleaving Jiedi God Jiedi Mantra <i>Heart Sūtra</i> human sacrifice |
| title | Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279) |
| title_full | Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279) |
| title_fullStr | Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279) |
| title_short | Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology: The Birth of an Indian God Jiedi <named-content content-type="font-family:KaiTi">揭諦</named-content> in Middle-Period China (618–1279) |
| title_sort | snake spell spirit and soteriology the birth of an indian god jiedi named content content type font family kaiti 揭諦 named content in middle period china 618 1279 |
| topic | Jiedi God Jiedi Wisdom King Ocean-Cleaving Jiedi God Jiedi Mantra <i>Heart Sūtra</i> human sacrifice |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/10/1303 |
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