Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t2.13

v2.c12.s1.t2.13

was Buddha’s birthday and its folk name was Bathing Buddha Festival. After Buddhism was introduced into China, Chinese Buddhists began to hold Bathing Buddha Festival in the 2ⁿᵈ or 3ʳᵈ century CE. The action of bathing the Buddha originated from India. The content of “Parading the Buddha” was added when the activity of bathing the Buddha was held in Jin Dynasty (around 4ᵗʰ century CE). “Parading the Buddha” means parading Buddha’s image in a carriage. Shi Hu of Late Zhao in Jin Dynasty (reigned between 335-349 CE) ordered skilled craftsmen to make a sandalwood carriage, which carried the golden image of the Buddha to parade, nine dragons were made to jet out water to bathe the image, which was magnificent and luxurious. In the period between the 5ᵗʰ and 6ᵗʰ century CE, the activity of “Parading the Buddha” was held in the south and north of China in Bathing Buddha Festival, which was learned from India. ‘*Biography of Faxian*’ recorded India’s parading the Buddha in detail.