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Thread: Foreign monks in wuxia: did any of them demonstrate much knowledge of Buddhism?

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    Moderator Ken Cheng's Avatar
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    Default Foreign monks in wuxia: did any of them demonstrate much knowledge of Buddhism?

    The Chan-Buddhist monks of the Central Plains as depicted in wuxia stories (e.g. Shaolin monks) were sometimes hypocrites, but for the most part, they demonstrated at least a good knowledge of Buddhist theology. They didn't always practice what they preached, but at the very least, they knew what they were preaching and could talk the talk of Buddhism if not walk the walk.

    But foreign monks (e.g. Kau Mor Tze of DGSD, Ling Tze Seung Yan of LOCH, Golden Wheel Monk of ROCH, and a whole slew of Tibetan Buddhists in HSDS) seemed to be warriors only. Their religious trappings seemed more like an elaborate disguise rather than reflection of actual religious authority. Did these foreign monks ever demonstrate a degree of Buddhist knowledge?

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    Senior Member Ian Liew's Avatar
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    Jiu Mozhi did pretty well after he lost his martial arts. He had the intellectual knowledge without the spiritual enlightenment. He knew how to decode Kurong's name, and was renowned for his Buddhist knowledge even when he was being a real jerk.

    Tibetan Monk (Yideng's martial brother) was probably the most enlightened (and physically the weakest) of the lot.

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    The pious foreign monks wouldn't travel thousands of miles to compete with the wulin community. They know that desire is the root of all suffering, and that to lust for fame would be to stray from the middle road of buddhism. Thus you never hear of them in the novels.

    Nonetheless, the great wheel monk is a pretty badass character, i can't say the same about the golden wheel monk though, he's a sorry excuse for an antagonist.

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    Senior Member PJ's Avatar
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    Jiumozhi demonstrated high proficiency in Buddhism upon first appearing. He saw through elder Kurong's attainment right away (the Ku and the Rong as related to Buddhism), which was supposed to be highly sophisticated.
    忽见柳荫下两个小孩子在哀哀痛哭,瞧模样正是武敦儒、武修文兄弟。郭芙大声叫道:「喂,你们在干甚麽?」武 修文回头见是郭芙,哭道:「我们在哭,你不见麽?」

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    Moderator Ken Cheng's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Liew View Post
    Jiu Mozhi did pretty well after he lost his martial arts. He had the intellectual knowledge without the spiritual enlightenment. He knew how to decode Kurong's name, and was renowned for his Buddhist knowledge even when he was being a real jerk.

    Tibetan Monk (Yideng's martial brother) was probably the most enlightened (and physically the weakest) of the lot.
    Quote Originally Posted by BlackRaven View Post
    The pious foreign monks wouldn't travel thousands of miles to compete with the wulin community. They know that desire is the root of all suffering, and that to lust for fame would be to stray from the middle road of buddhism. Thus you never hear of them in the novels.

    Nonetheless, the great wheel monk is a pretty badass character, i can't say the same about the golden wheel monk though, he's a sorry excuse for an antagonist.
    Quote Originally Posted by PJ View Post
    Jiumozhi demonstrated high proficiency in Buddhism upon first appearing. He saw through elder Kurong's attainment right away (the Ku and the Rong as related to Buddhism), which was supposed to be highly sophisticated.
    His spiritual successor, the Golden Wheel Monk, on the other hand, didn't seem to demonstrate much Buddhist knowledge at all.

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    Moderator Ren Wo Xing's Avatar
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    Without question, Jiumozhi displayed the best knowledge of Buddhism out of all the foreign monks; he was said to be highly enlightened and had a great understanding of Buddhism, to the point where even the Duan's of Dali admired him and (iirc) even Emperor Baoding had wished to go pay a visit to him to listen to him expound on Buddhism. Unfortunately, prior to losing all of his energy, he had not attained much enlightenment, despite having a very sound and deep theoretical basis of Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy.
    Read the latest chapters of Coiling Dragon at Wuxia World!

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    Senior Member Candide's Avatar
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    Going by a note in DGSD, Jiumozhi did some great translation work to preserve ancient Buddhist texts after losing all of his energy.
    "Anything you can't say NO to is your MASTER, and you are its SLAVE."

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    Senior Member CC's Avatar
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    There is always Damo, who thumps everyone in both Buddhist wisdom and martial arts.
    Its BIxie Jianfa Gawdammit you guys!!!!

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