Cihang Taoist
Everyone is unfamiliar with Taoist Cihang, but not unfamiliar with Guanshiyin. Everyone in the world knows that Guanyin Bodhisattva is the great merciful and compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Did you know that Guanyin Bodhisattva is the incarnation of Cihang, and for this reason, Cihang is Guanyin. Therefore, Taoism respects Cihang and Buddhism respects Guanyin. Because Guanyin's life is to save all sentient beings, to provide disaster relief, to resolve difficulties, and to encourage good deeds and accumulate virtue wherever he goes, everyone respects Guanyin.
The predecessor of Guanyin Buddha was a man named Cihang Taoist, but later he became a female Bodhisattva in Buddhism. There is a history here.
It is said that after Cihang Taoist became a god, he traveled all over the world and saved many people. One day, he vaguely heard a miserable cry in the clouds. Looking down, there was a woman lying on a remote mountain trail, covering her stomach with her hands, moaning in pain. He knew that this woman was having a difficult childbirth and wanted to come down to earth to relieve her suffering. But then I thought about it. I am not a woman. If I assist a woman in childbirth, I am afraid that the woman will be surprised and suspicious, and secondly I will be afraid of the ridicule of passers-by. But if we avoid it and miss the time, the lives of mother and child will not be saved. Then he thought of a plan and said, "Why don't I do this?" Immediately, he brushed himself with a whisk and turned into a beautiful woman holding a whisk in hand. She pressed down the clouds and came to the woman. Seeing that the woman was unconscious, she took out an elixir and nectar water and poured it into the woman's mouth. Soon the woman gave birth to the fetus naturally. When the woman woke up, she saw a beautiful woman assisting her in giving birth. She stood up and bowed before her and said, "Thank you, girl, for saving the lives of my mother and son. It is a great kindness that I will never forget! May I ask where the girl lives?" Ci Hang said. The man smiled and said, "You don't have to thank me. This is the duty of a monk. I am Cihang Guanshiyin, and I live in the South China Sea." After saying that, he flew away on the clouds, and the woman kowtowed to the sky again to thank her.
The woman returned home with the baby in her arms and told her husband about the encounter with a god who saved his life. The husband was very grateful, so he asked a carver to carve a statue of Buddha with the body of a fairy, called "Guanjian Buddha", and placed it in the hall to worship as his wife said. Taoist Cihang knew this, so he often appeared here to show his holiness and bless all living beings.
From then on, people worshiped Cihang Guanshishi as the female Buddha.
Taoist Cihang first practiced Taoism and then entered Buddhism. She looks like a little girl, small and exquisite, with an oval face, willow eyebrows, double eyelids, pink and phoenix eyes, and a cherry mouth. Poetic proof:
The phoenix root and eyebrows are long and noble, and the shadow, light, fragrance and spirit are clear.
Intelligent, wise and Taoist, vowing to save all living beings in one life,
She has a cherry mouth with big lips and rouge, her teeth are as white as jade and fine wicker, her smile is as clear and smooth as a lotus, and she is smart and dressed in a robe.
Cihang has been diligent in reading since he was a child. He not only understands scriptures but also understands medicine. But everyone saw that he had the appearance of a girl, and thought he had no future. In the past, people were supposed to be tall and strong in order to support their families. Sometimes neighbors would insult him and scold him for saying that a man looks like a woman. Feng Shui means burying people behind the scenes and other unpleasant words. Cihang thought, if it is impossible to develop Taoism among men, if there is a way, Buddhism can be spread among leisure women. So she transformed into a beautiful girl who preached Dharma among the people, encouraged good deeds, and saved all sentient beings. Later, Buddhism evolved Cihang into the highest model figure in Buddhism. For this reason, it is said that Guanyin's feet are still big and flat after cultivating them for seven generations. The "Yin Yin Bodhisattva Book" contains the following evolution explanation.
The king Miaozhuang, the young daughter Miaoshan Niang,
The father wants to recruit a nun, but the nun will not marry him.
I was sent to the garden to be imprisoned, but my appearance was very strange.
The envoy from Baique Temple and the gods are busy helping each other.
The remaining soldiers went to burn the mansion, and the spirit inspired the gods.
Xiaoyao persuaded me upstairs, but I didn’t give in to the hardships.
He was taken to the execution ground and hanged, hiding in a dense mountain on the back of a tiger.
The soul returns to the underworld, and the ten palaces shine with light.
After the cause is liberated, Xiangshan returns to Yang.
After nine years of practice, I have achieved great success and strong moral character.
My father's illness spared his hands and eyes, and the disease was cured as usual.
It is only when civil and military officials go to the mountains to thank them that they realize that their flesh and bones are injured.
A family visits the Buddhist country and is happy in the West.