Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t1.35

v2.c12.s1.t1.35

Under the influence of Buddhism, various kinds of forms were adopted to pray for afterlife blessings for the dead in ancient China including chanting sutras, turning sutras, vegetarian preparation, making images, donating in temples, building temples and so on. Activities pursuing blessing had occurred since Southern and Northern Dynasties which were often reflected in literary works. Till Song Dynasty, fast ceremony of 1,000 monks, fast ceremony of 10,000 monks and Moksha-maha-parishad reduced gradually. But there were many virtues and merits of bodhimanda. Establishing bodhimanda for the dead had developed perfectly and ritualised hereafter, and was known as “water and land bodhimanda”.