Chapter 47: Paying Homage to Buddha

"The time is ripe; we should also enter and pay our respects to the Buddha."

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, Fashang instructed his attendants and, accompanying Gao Rui, personally led Gao Yin and his entourage into the temple.

Heshui Temple was a mountain monastery, featuring the Dushuo Hall built upon the very summit of the mountain, housing a hundred and fifty monks.

Since the former Wei dynasty, the imperial rituals of worshipping the Buddha primarily involved the procession and prostration of the patrons.

Led by the Emperor and Empress, the imperial family split into two parties: the Emperor leading the court officials, and the Empress leading the imperial consorts and concubines. The officials and consorts further formed secondary centers, divided into groups according to their official ranks and titles. Their status and hierarchy were reflected through pre-planned positions, the magnificence of their ceremonial garments, and the number of their attendants, arranging themselves in descending order from high to low before filing in successively.

According to the regulations of imperial insignia, both the Emperor and Empress were shaded by a magnificent canopy and flanked by two clusters of pheasant-tail fans. The Emperor wore the crown with hanging beads and the ceremonial robe, while the Empress wore a flowered crown and a long-sleeved gown with trailing hems. Today, acting on behalf of the Emperor to worship the Buddha, Gao Yin likewise was shaded by a magnificent canopy, flanked by two clusters of pheasant-tail fans, and wore the nine-tasseled crown and black-and-red robes discussed during the wedding preparations the day before, accompanied by eight attendants.

As princes of the realm, Gao Rui and Gao Zongzong each had a magnificent canopy and a single cluster of pheasant-tail fans, wore sable-feathered caps, and donned long-sleeved trailing robes. Although Gao Xiaoguan had been enfeoffed as the Founding Duke of Lecheng, his official post was merely that of a Palace Attendant of the Regular Miscellaneous Service; thus, he followed the regulations for officials of the third to sixth ranks alongside other ministers, bringing three attendants, carrying one parasol and two round fans. By virtue of his imperial lineage, however, he was positioned right beside Gao Rui.

Just as everyone was making preparations, a monk suddenly came to report that another procession was ascending the mountain—it was the carriage of Gao Yan, the Prince of Pingyang.

This came as quite a surprise to the Crown Prince's entourage. When Gao Rui inquired about it, Fashang maintained a calm and unruffled expression: "A few days ago, the Prince of Pingyang mentioned he would come to our temple to worship the Buddha. I had not expected it to be today. I wonder if the Crown Prince..."

Gao Yin looked thoughtful: "Then let us wait a moment and offer our devotions together with my Imperial Uncle!"

Fashang acknowledged the command, and the group rested temporarily. Those who understood the inner workings, however, knew there was more to this than met the eye.

Fashang had a hundred ways to keep the two parties separated; even on the very same day, he could easily have prevented the Crown Prince and the Prince of Pingyang from crossing paths. If he lacked even this basic level of control, he would hardly be worthy of being the leader of Buddhism in Qi.

Yet it happened to be today, and he had proactively mentioned it to the Crown Prince. This indicated that he had known about it all along—perhaps even arranged it himself—and behind it all surely lay a higher-level instruction, namely, from the Emperor.

Gao Xiaoguan and Gao Zongzong were still young and failed to grasp this layer of meaning, assuming it was merely a coincidence. Only a few, such as Gao Rui, Gao Guiyan, and Bi Yiyun, understood the truth.

A short while later, Fashang's personal attendants withdrew from Dushuo Hall, and soon, a twenty-six-year-old youth in splendid garments hurried into the hall.

"Where is the Crown Prince? This subject was unaware that the imperial carriage was here and failed to greet you with full ceremony; I beg the Crown Prince to forgive my transgression!"

As a son of Gao Huan, Gao Yan was also exceptionally striking, with starlike eyes, sword-like eyebrows, and a face like powdered jade, enough to make one's heart yield involuntarily. The power he wielded was likewise immense. As the Grand Commandant of the Capital Metropolitan Region of Qi at that time, Gao Yan controlled a garrison of two hundred thousand troops in the capital region, of which twenty-five thousand had been assigned by Gao Yang to the Grand Commandant's Office; even so, Gao Yan still held eighteen thousand troops under his direct command.

Consequently, very few people within the state of Qi could make him show deep reverence, and Gao Yin was one of them.

"Imperial Uncle, you are too polite, you overwhelm me!" Gao Yin stepped forward to take Gao Yan's hand, saying enthusiastically, "Today I am acting on behalf of my Imperial Father to offer the sarira relics. I was just saying that since this is my first time, I am somewhat nervous. I never imagined that Imperial Uncle would happen to come to Heshui Temple as well. If you could offer some guidance, it would truly be a tremendous help to me!"

Gao Yan was a frequent visitor to Heshui Temple, not only because both he and his late Princess Consort, Feng Suoluo, were devout Buddhists, but also because Feng Suoluo had passed away four years prior. Deeply in love with her, Gao Yan had consecrated a spirit tablet for her at Heshui Temple and would come to visit her from time to time.

Hearing Gao Yin say this, Gao Yan initially intended to decline, but Gao Yin's subsequent words left an indelible mark upon his heart: "Imperial Uncle misses your beloved wife and regularly prays for her. As I make offerings on behalf of my Imperial Father, I also hope that Imperial Uncle and Consort Feng may share in the Buddha's light. Making offerings of sarira relics to Sakyamuni Buddha will surely win the Buddha's benevolent protection, causing all malevolent spirits to retreat, and Consort Feng will likewise accrue some merit. If a golden statue can be molded and a karmic rank attained, she will surely visit Imperial Uncle in dreams."

Gao Yan was deeply moved by these words. He removed the string of prayer beads from his wrist, closed his eyes, and murmured silently. After a moment, he opened his eyes and smiled with a laugh, "In that case, I thank the Crown Prince for your profound kindness."

Reaching a consensus, the two men combined their respective attendants and ministers into a single, massive procession, which marched grandiosely alongside Fashang's monks toward the grotto housing the sarira pagoda.

Since Gao Yin represented the Emperor, he stood at the very front, closely followed by Gao Yan and Gao Rui, with the imperial clan of the Gao family arrayed behind them, centering around the Buddha statues.

Although Gao Yin's retinue contained no women, Gao Yan had brought along several concubines. According to the custom where the left side was honored, these women all stood on the right at the tail end of the procession, waiting quietly outside while the patrons performed their prostrations.

It was said that after the death and cremation of Sakyamuni, sarira relics were formed, which his disciples collected and enshrined within pagodas for the world to revere. Later, the kings of eight nations raised armies to seize the sarira relics and built pagodas to enshrine them respectively. Thus, Buddhist pagodas became the earliest architectural structures for monks to worship, inspiring them to erect pagodas wherever they went—the ultimate goal for propagating monks.

A Buddhist pagoda was also known as a "stupa." The saying, "Saving a human life is better than building a seven-tiered stupa," meant that a single human life was worth more than the construction of a seven-story pagoda.

Sakyamuni's sarira pagoda was eight meters square and twenty meters tall, but aside from the first level inside the pagoda where people could move about and which rose three meters high, the remaining portion above was essentially functionless. Its primary purpose was to display wealth—just as Shi Chong and Wang Kai of the Western Jin dynasty used treasures to vie in opulence, building towering pagodas became a means for the imperial family, powerful relatives, and the super-rich to compete in extravagance.

Imperial pagodas and murals were mostly built within grotto chambers for a very simple reason: constructing pavilions or storied buildings required constant maintenance and protection from wind and sun, whereas inner grotto chambers were far easier to preserve.

The outer walls of the sarira pagoda were inlaid with three thousand seven hundred relief bricks of various designs. The motifs included Buddha statues, disciples, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, vajras, warriors, palace maids, flying celestials, musicians, Azure Dragons, White Tigers, fierce lions, elephants, winged horses, giant pythons, floral patterns, and colored ribbons—seventy-two kinds in all. A portion of these showed the influence of Persian Zoroastrian culture brought by the Sogdians, depicting Huteng dancers, flute players, and winged guardian beasts.

Gao Yin and the others entered the grotto, and after Fashang finished chanting the scriptures, the ritual of worship commenced.

The initial ceremony was the right-hand circumambulation. Gao Yin held a burning lamp, while those behind him held censors. Centering upon the sarira relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, they continuously circled to the right within the central-pillar grotto chamber, exactly as stated in the *Avatamsaka Scripture*: "Wishing to begin circumambulating the pagoda, may all sentient beings put blessings and protection into practice and thoroughly comprehend the intent of the Path."

The towering pillar in the center of the grotto stood loftily, supporting the faith of this domain, while the interconnected corridors on all sides resembled a gallery of time and the soul. The walls were densely carved with Buddha statues. As Gao Yin strolled in right-hand circumambulation, Gao Rui, Gao Yan, and the others followed closely step by step. Their gazes wandered among the Buddha images on the walls, and upon encountering each Buddha, they would devoutly bow and prostrate themselves.

Unawares, this act became imbued with the power of vows. The densely packed Buddha statues carved into the walls were exquisitely detailed—some seated, some standing, some with compassionate countenances, others solemn and dignified. It made one's hair stand on end, as if every Buddha were gazing directly down upon them. Aside from the monks' low, murmuring chants, there was only the sound of one's own accelerating heartbeat and respiration, allowing an indescribable atmosphere to quietly permeate the air.

Gradually, apart from the murmur of the monks chanting scriptures in low voices, there was not a single other sound throughout the grotto. It seemed as though even the sound of one's own inner voice could no longer be heard. The sound of the chanting no longer resembled human recitation; instead, it seemed to drift from the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, or perhaps whisper directly into one's ear. All the vexations, pettiness, and ugliness within the heart were gently washed clean and cleansed away by these whispers, tumbling down into a bottomless abyss. Consequently, the soul grew tranquil alongside a lazy desolation, then vast and empty, as if attaining boundless freedom.

Suddenly, a sob broke the quiet serenity. Annoyed, the crowd looked over and discovered that Gao Yan was covering his face and weeping, two lines of tears spilling out from between his hands.

Seeing this, Fashang pressed his palms together and chanted aloud, "Namo Amitabha."

"Amitabha..."

The monks' chanting echoed within the pagoda, growing distant and lingering, taking on a non-human resonance that sounded as though bodhisattvas and vajras were making the exact same response.

Even with the soul of a later era, Gao Yin was deeply moved by this scene. He was inwardly horrified, marveling at how religion possessed a magic far surpassing human imagination—even he was almost ready to buy into this whole system.

Forget about claiming that since he came from the future, he ought to strictly adhere to atheism; precisely because he was a time traveler from a later era, he had all the more reason to believe in the existence of gods—at least science could not explain how he had arrived in this era.

Yet, being naturally suspicious, Gao Yin did not allow himself to be completely consumed by it. Even so, he gained a visceral appreciation for the formidable power of Buddhism. In the unseen realm, it truly felt as though some otherworldly beings were watching over him.

Having completed the circumambulation, Gao Yin asked in a low voice, "What is to be done next?"