Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t1.5

v2.c12.s1.t1.5

Maitreya was the future Buddha in Buddhist legends, which was based on Maitreya-vyakarana and Story of Maitreya mainly. The former said that Maitreya came to the world from tushita heaven, and was born in a Brahmin family in south India. He later became a Buddha under a Mesuna tree and expounded doctrines to gods and people. The latter said that Maitreya returned to tushita heaven after nirvana. Tushita heaven was Maitreya’s pure land with pleasant songs and dances, beautiful clothes and nice food. Many Chinese eminent monks and famous persons wanted to go there, such as Dao An in Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xuanzang and Bai Juyi in the Tang Dynasty. The image of Maitreya was