Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.34

v1.c7.34

Buddhism during the Tang not only spread within Han territory but also reached Nanzhao in Yunnan and the Tubo territory of Tibet. In these areas there were also Indian monks living there. In the 7th century, the Indian A Zali (also given as A Zhali) (Ācārya) and his master Zantuo Jueduo (also given as Shili Daduo) (Candragupta or Śrīdatta) came to the country of Nanzhao from Mojietuo (Magadha) and spread esotericism. He was respected by the king of Nanzhao, Xi Nuluo. They erected five esoteric altars and promoted yoga. The group of Zantuo Jueduo and Zhang Zichen, Luo Luoyi and others formed the “seven masters of Nanzhao”. They promoted A Zhali's teaching. The Indian monk Li Chengmei and his disciple Chan Hezi, reached Dali from central India in the 9th century and introduced the belief in Guanyin to the country of Nanzhao.