Religious Section 宗教篇

Part Eighteen 第十八部分

🌹Weituo (Vajrapani, Skanda or the Temple Guardian) 韋馱，亦稱塞犍陀

A Collection of Choice Specimens from Chinese Culture 《中国文化集锦》

Seventy Years of Deep Affection of Knowledge about the English Language 英语七十载厚重岁月情缘

There is no shortage of hard-working people in the world, but of those who work hard to the end. 世上从不缺少努力的人，缺的是努力到底的人！

With utter devotion to the country and without any thought of oneself.
心有大我，至诚报国

The true meaning of life lies in the fact that: “To be an upright person dependably, to handle affairs seriously.” 人生的真谛是：“老老实实做人，踏踏实实做事。”

🌹Weituo (Skanda or the Temple
Guardian) 韋馱，亦稱塞犍陀

There is no cultural symbolism of malevolent (or ominous) associated with Weituo himself.
Buddhism and Chinese traditional culture, Weituo (Skanda) is a Dharma-protecting deity who
exorcises evil, suppresses malevolent forces, and upholds the true Dharma. 关于“韦陀凶的文化象征”并无“韦陀”本身代表“凶” 的文化象征。相反，韦陀在佛教及中国传统的文化中是护法神、驱邪镇煞、护持正法的正面形象。
At first, Weituo or General Wei韋馱或韋將軍或韋馱天, together with the two generals like Heng (snorter) and Ha (blower)（the Two Ferocious Gigantic Guardians）哼哈二將, the Four Heavenly Kings (or the Four Devarajas or Heavenly Guardians)四大天王，四位气势凛然、威武庄严的护法大神（The Four Majestic, Solemn, and Awe-inspiring Dharma-Protecting Deities, symbolizing seasonable weather with gentle breeze and timely rain 寓意风调雨顺）, were all supernatural generals who protected Buddhist doctrines. Weituo has been Chinese-like guardian protecting Buddhist doctrines. 韋馱漢族化了的佛教護法神All of them took on the responsibility of guarding work in Buddhist temples 負責保護佛法. But each of them had his work to do. Weituo, also known as Weituo Tian, Weituo-deva Bodhisattva is one of the eight generals under the leadership of the Southern Heavenly King named Zengzhang 增長. Each of the Four Heavenly Kings had eight generals totally 32 generals in all and Weituo ranked the first among the 32 guardian generals. Since early Tang Dynasty (618-907), the statue of Weituo has been erected behind the shrine of Maitreya Buddha 彌勒佛 in the Hall of Heavenly King 天王殿. He often wears an ancient armed general uniform holding in his hand a Monster-Surround Stick, named Vajra（梵文叫伐者羅）金剛杵 (a symbol of might), used for defeating and conquering evil spirits or devils. He faces Sakyamuni enshrined in the Precious Hall of the Great Hero (the main hall of a Buddhist temple, in which Sakyamuni is the central figure of a triad enthroned upon lotus pedestals, the two others being usually Ananda 阿難陀and Kasyapa 迦葉, his two favorite disciples). 傳說為四大天王中南方增長天王的八將之一，居四大天王三十二將之首。自唐初被安置於寺院中。其造像一般穿古武將服；執金剛杵，立于天王殿彌勒像之後，面對大雄寶殿內的釋迦牟尼佛。
According to Buddhism, Buddha issued decrees that Weituo protected those people who became monks or nuns to shield and sustain Buddhist doctrines.
Weituo was regarded as Shen Xing Tai Bao 神仙太保(supernatural being or celestial being) and good at walking like flying. Buddhism has it that when the remain of (Tathagata the Buddha) was cremated, suddenly, rushed over a fast-going ghost stealing Buddha’s two teeth and escaped. After Weituo discovered he was enraged and running after the ghost. Although the fast-going ghost was running fast and agile, he was no match for the fleeting-footed Weituo and finally the ghost was caught. Weituo seized back the Buddha’s teeth and made great contributions. Therefore, Weituo was assigned a special job of guarding the graveyard of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.
After Buddhism was introduced to China about 2,000 years ago, Weituo (Veda) with Indian origin thoroughly changed his appearance and became an ancient Chinese military general. His statue is clad in a golden suit of armor. The statue seems young, majestic-looking with martial bearing. He holds in his hand a Monster-Subduing Stick, named Vajra金剛杵 (a symbol of might), used for defeating and conquering evil spirits or devils.
The statue of Weituo often stands behind the shrine of Maitreya facing backwards to a large courtyard.
Karttikeya (a Hindu god of war). He is shown riding on a peacock, with a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other, and he’s also known as Skanda and Kumara.
韋馱：梵語 Skanda（塞建陀）, 亦稱韋天將軍，是佛教護法天神，傳說為四大天王南方增長天王的八大神將之一，居四大天王三十二神將之首。傳自唐初道宣記載其事蹟以來，被安置於寺院中。其塑像一般穿古武將服，手持金鋼杵，被安于天王殿彌勒佛之後，面對大雄寶殿內的釋迦牟尼像。
﹡金鋼杵 梵語Vajra, 含霹靂（能劈開一切愚昧無知）、金鋼石（能摧毀一切惡魔）兩層含義。佛教法器。亦是佛教密宗（金鋼乘）的象徵。最初為古印度的兵器，用金銀銅鐵鑄成或用硬木製成。
The laughing Maitreya, the terrifying standing Skanda, and the Four Heavenly Kings guarding the four directions — this layout embodies the highest level of Chinese wisdom in dealing with the world. 弥勒笑，韦陀凶、四大天王镇四方，藏着中国人最高级的处世智慧。