Phật Đồ Trừng
Definition
- Proper noun:
- Buddha-Tu-Cheng: A historical figure, an Indian Buddhist monk who traveled to China. He arrived in China in the 4th year of the Yongjia era (310 CE). He was highly revered by the emperor, who permitted him to ascend to the imperial hall during court audiences.
- A mystic monk: He is traditionally described as possessing magical or supernatural abilities, specifically the power to draw talismans with a water-soaked brush, recite incantations, and cause a lotus flower to bloom brilliantly from a bowl of water.
Usage Examples
- Proper noun:
- Phật Đồ Trừng là một cao tăng Ấn Độ quan trọng trong lịch sử Phật giáo Trung Quốc. (Buddha-Tu-Cheng was an important Indian monk in the history of Chinese Buddhism.)
- Truyền thuyết kể rằng Phật Đồ Trừng có thể khiến hoa sen nở trong bát nước. (Legend says that Buddha-Tu-Cheng could make a lotus flower bloom in a bowl of water.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily used in historical and religious contexts, specifically in discussions about the early transmission of Buddhism from India to China and the lives of influential monks.
- The stories surrounding Phật Đồ Trừng often highlight the role of spiritual powers () in legitimizing and spreading Buddhist teachings in a new cultural context.
Variants and Related Words
- Phật Đồ (Proper noun): A transliteration of "Buddha" or part of the monk's name. It is not commonly used independently in modern Vietnamese to refer to the historical figure.
- Cao tăng (n): A venerable monk, an eminent monk. This is a general term for a highly respected Buddhist monk, like Phật Đồ Trừng.
Synonyms
- Monk: A member of a religious community of men.
- Missionary: A person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote their faith in a foreign place.
- Mystic: A person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the divine.
Related Concepts
- Early Chinese Buddhism: The period of Buddhist history in China during which figures like Phật Đồ Trừng were active.
- Thần thông (n): Supernatural powers or spiritual penetrations, a concept in Buddhism often associated with advanced practitioners, as exemplified in the legends of Phật Đồ Trừng.
- Talisman (bùa): An object believed to have magic powers and to bring good luck. The stories of Phật Đồ Trừng involve drawing talismans.