Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t5.1

v2.c10.s1.t5.1

*Mulian Play* is a drama composed on the basis of Buddhist stories. According to *Ullambana Sutra*, after Mulian (Maudgalyayana), one of Buddha’s 10 disciples acquires magic powers. He grieves at seeing his mother in a hungery state in a lower realm. Buddha instructs him to liberate his mother by offering foods to the sangha on 15ᵗʰ day of the seventh month. Chinese like *Ullambana Sutra* because its topic is very close to that of Chinese filial piety and have established the Obon Festival on the 15ᵗʰ day of the seventh month. Zongmi (780-841 CE), a scholar-monk in Tang Dynasty, once wrote a commentary on *Ullambana Sutra* saying that Mulian was named Luobo and his mother was called Qingti. This suggestion was instantly accepted by the population and adopted in Bianwen (Transformational Texts) in Tang Dynasty; such as *Da Mulian Yuanqi*, *Da Mulian Bianwen*, *Da Mujianlian Minjian Jiumu Bianwen*. According to Dongjing Meng Hua Lu (*Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital*), in about 11ᵗʰ century CE, every year the drama of *Mulian Jiumu Zaju* would be performed in the Western Capital (present-day Kaifeng) from the seventh day to 15ᵗʰ day of the seventh month. Later, dozens of Mulian plays were created. In 12ᵗʰ century CE in northern China there