Strong+Belief+of+Buddhism

Cixi's Firm Belief in Buddhism Cixi passionately believed in Lamaism, a type of Buddhism, calling herself ‘The Venerable Buddhist’. Not only did she place Buddhist chapels and shrines in her bedroom, she also prayed twice a day. One the first and fifteenth day of every month, she would keep a daylong vegetarian diet. Several days before the birthday of Buddha- the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, CIxi would command the royal cooks to prepare vegetarian dishes, and forbid a single dish to be served more than once during this time. She also adapted the habit of writing and reading Buddhist sutras each day. Occasionally, she would taken even more steps to express her faith in BIddhism, such as dressing herself as the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Goddess of Mercy) to go boating on the central lake, Zhongnan Hai near the Forbidden City.



**The Empress Dowager dressed as Avalokitesvara (1875- 1908) ** In this painting, Cixi has styled herself as Avalokitsevara (Goddess of Mercy). Wearing a crown of lotus blossoms, and clothed in a Buddhist robe she sits under bamboo stalks and a peach tree. Next to her a young boy holds a lingzhi fungus as though worshipping a goddess. Images in the painting such as the bamboo grove, peaches, lingzhi fungus and butterflies all are symbols of longevity which are obviously directed to Cixi.



Within the walls of the Forbidden City were many Buddhist chapels where Cixi often offered incense and chanted sutras in the palace’s Buddhist chapels. During the summer months, Cixi would import a rare breed of lotus flower from the Summer Palace to the Forbidden City as an offering. Her dedication and strong belief of Buddhism was so great that she once copied the ‘Heart Sutra’ by hand.



**Tapestry of Avalokitesvara (1736- 1795 **

Avalokiesvara is the most important bodhisattva in the Buddhist pantheon. In this tapestry she is depicted with a tranquil smile, wearing a winter hat and seated on a lotus throne. In her right hand she holds a willow branch and in her left hand a vase of holy water. The embroidery on this tapestry was done with polychrome satin threads. Even though this piece was made over a century before CIxi’s rule, she still treasured this embroidery.



**Gold Lacquer Avalokitsevara (1644-1911) ** Cixi admired this statue of Avalokitesvara which was made out of wood and golden lacquer. The statue sits in a relaxed position holding a bracelet of beads in her right hand and wearing a shawl, cape and a flowing skirt. Avaolokitsevara statues in this particular pose were the creation of Chinese artisans and became popular after the Song and Liao dynasties (10th and 20th centuries).