Publication details
Smějící se Buddha: Hwašang a jeho zobrazení
| Title in English | Laughing Buddha: Images of Hwashang |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Olivová Lucie (ed.), Postava šibala v asijské slovesnosti |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Philosophy and religion |
| Keywords | Buddha; Tibetan Buddhism; Buddhist Iconography; Hwashang |
| Description | One of the popular figures of Tibetan Buddhism is a Chinese monk, called Hwashang by Tibetans (related to the Chinese expression ho-shang, i.e. Buddhist monk). He is usually depicted either with Buddha Shakyamuni and sixteen (to eighteen) arhats and with Dharmatala or alone. According to various texts, it was Hwashang, who was sent to India by the Chinese emperor in the year 710 in order to bring those sixteen arhats to China. In the end Hwashang fulfilled his task, which is symbolized by frolicking children depicted in his presence. The figure of the smiling monk is often referred to as the Laughing Buddha; in this figure, mingling of historical and mythological levels is typical. There are plentity paradoxical or absurd stories about him in Asian literature. The contribution deals both with the figure of Hwashang and his depiction. |
| Related projects: |