In Strange Tales from Liaozhai Studio: The Painted Wall (The Mural), the statue of Baozhi Monk (Zhi Gong) — a revered monk of the Liang Dynasty–is not a random religious motif but a deliberate spiritual beacon crafted by Pu Songling.
Rooted in Baozhi’s historical legacy, it embodies the theme of “piercing illusion to awaken truth,” symbolizing the confrontation between delusion and enlightenment.
Baozhi: Historical and religious context
- Honored as “Imperial Preceptor” by Emperor Wu of Liang, Baozhi’s transcendence of worldly illusions is legendary.
- He performed rites to liberate soul of the queen, wife of Emperor Wu of Liang dynasty, cementing his image as a bridge between realms.
The “Unpaintable Dharma”: Baozhi as Guanyin Incarnation
When the painter Zhang Sengyao attempted to portray him, Baozhi asked: “Will you paint my skin or my dharma?” Upon choosing “dharma,” Baozhi manifested as the twelve-faced Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara), leaving the master painter awestruck and unable to proceed. This cemented his identity as a bodhisattva incarnate.
This story serves as a crucial basis for later generations regarding him as an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. Eminent monks and literati of the Tang Dynasty, such as Hanshan, Jiaoran, Li Bai, and Yuan Zhen, composed verses explicitly or implicitly referencing Zhi Gong and the tale of Zhang Sengyao, confirming his recognition as an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. For instance, Li Bai’s “In Praise of Baozhi’s Portrait” from the Tang Dynasty exemplifies this association.
Li Bai’s Ode: Embodying Zen enlightenment
Li Bai’s “In Praise of Baozhi’s Portrait” captures his essence:
“The moon in water–unattainable;
The mind, vast as void–masterless.”
These lines:
- Mirror the Diamond Sutra: “All phenomena are illusory.”
- Reflect Zen philosophy: “non-abiding” (wuzhu)–a mind unbound by duality, achieving absolute freedom.
Why Baozhi’s statue matters in The Mural
The statue serves as a foil to Zhu Xiaolian’s delusion:
Baozhi’s presence contrasts the scholar’s entrapment in desire, highlighting the chasm between “the entangled” and “the awakened.”
Pu Songling leverages Baozhi’s historical role as an “illusion-shattering sage” to anchor the tale’s core tension: fantasy versus enlightenment.
Thus, Baozhi(Zhi Gong) transcends mere iconography–he is the spiritual totem of awakening.
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