Muzha (mythology)

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Muzha
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese木吒
Simplified Chinese木吒
木叉
Japanese name
Kanji木吒
Hiraganaもくたく
Katakanaモクタク

Muzha (Chinese: 木吒; pinyin: Mùzha) is a folk character in Chinese mythology. Muzha appears in many classical literary works including Fengshen Yanyi, The Collection of Gods in Three Religions and Journey to the West. According to folklore, Muzha was born a human during the end of the Shang dynasty to General Li Jing. He is a disciple of the Bodhisattvas Samantabhadra and Guanyin. He had two brothers, Nezha and Jinzha. Muzha is worshipped as a deity in Chinese folk religion, known as Muzha Tianzun.[1][2] His birthday is the eighth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar.[3]

Historicity[edit]

Mucha (Chinese: 木叉; pinyin: Mùchā; Wade–Giles: Mu4-ch'a1), short for Pratimokṣa in Chinese (Chinese: 波羅提木叉; pinyin: Bólúotímùchā; Wade–Giles: Po1-lo2-t'i2-mu4-ch'a1),[4][5] was a historical figure in Han Buddhism during the era of Tang Empire. He was an apprentice of Master Sangha, along with Hui-an [a] and Hui-yen[b].[5]

As Master Sangha was seen as an avatar of Avalokiteśvara (Kuan Yin),[6] Mucha was later fictionalized as Kuan Yin's apprentice in the Zajü Journey to the West during the Great Yuan period. Afterwards, he was further blend with Hui-an as "Mucha Hui-an" (Chinese: 木叉惠岸; pinyin: Mùchā Hùiàn; Wade–Giles: Mu4-ch'a1 Hui4-an4) in the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West during the Great Ming period.[7][8][9][10]

Legends[edit]

Muzha's story is recorded in volume 7 of The Collection of Gods in Three Religions [zh] (三教搜神大全).[11][12][13] According to Muzha Subdues the Demons and the Great Sage of Sizhou Captures Shuimu (木叉行者降妖泗州大聖鎖水母) from Recording Ghost Book (錄鬼簿), Muzha assists his mater Guanyin to transform into Sangha (the Great Sage of Sizhou) and subdue the water monster.

Fengshen Yanyi[edit]

In the classic Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi, he was born as Li Muzha is the second son of Li Jing and Lady Yin. In appearance, Muzha is seen wearing a small top knot, a silk sash, linen shoes, and a cotton like garment. Thus, Muzha was seen as a celestial being — such as that of a superiorman — in appearance.

For many years, Muzha had left his father, Li Jing, to study under the Superiorman Universal Converter of White Egret Cave. Following the rebirth of Nezha, and the near death of Li Jing, Li Jing would run into Muzha — as to save his life. Muzha would react with great anger towards Nezha and would soon battle it out with his renowned long sword against the fire-tipped spear. Soon enough during their fierce duel, Li Jing would try to make another escape; this was the point in which Muzha would be defeated by Nezha's golden brick — which thrust him to the ground due to its great weight. Following this point, Muzha would later present himself before Li Resounding, one of four superiormen of Nine Dragon Island. Muzha chose to immediately kill Li Resounding at the first sign of defiance towards his words. Muzha would remain as a celestial protector of the Western Foothills, with Nezha and Jinzha following this point.

Journey to the West[edit]

In Journey to the West, Muzha became a disciple of Guanyin in the heavenly court, with the legal name Hui An. When he was ordered to conquer the sand demon, and later Sun Wukong lost to the Red Boy, Hui An borrowed 36 Tian Gang swords from his father Li Jing to help the Guanyin Bodhisattva conquer the Red Boy, making him a good boy under the Guanyin.[14]

Worship[edit]

Satues of Nezha, Jinzha and Muzha

Muzha is worshipped as a deity in Chinese folk religion, where he is also known as Muzha Tianzun. His statue often appears in temples dedicated to his father Li Jing and Nezha. He is enshrined as a main deity in Hongfa Palace Temple in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County.[15] His oversea temple "Muzha Palace" was built in Klang, Malaysia in 1988, and is an important landmark in Klang.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 李亦辉 (2018-04-30). 《封神演义》考论 (Research on Fengshen Yanyi) (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. ISBN 978-7-02-013694-0.
  2. ^ ":::弘法宮木吒二太子命理網:::". hongfagong.com.tw. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  3. ^ "筹庆九皇爷各具特色". 光华网. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  4. ^ 丁福保 (1922). "【木叉】". 《佛學大辭典》. （經名）波羅提木叉Pratimokṣa之異稱。譯言別解脫，為戒律之一名。
  5. ^ a b 釋贊寧. "卷第十八". 宋高僧傳. 中宗勅恩度弟子三人，慧岸、慧儼、木叉各賜衣盂，令嗣香火。（略）弟子木叉者，以西域言為名，華言解脫也。
  6. ^ "【泗州大聖】". 三教源流搜神大全. …泗州僧伽大師者世謂觀音大士意化也……帝及百官咸稱弟手與度惠儼惠岸木叉三人…
  7. ^ Wu Cheng'en. "第十二回〈唐王秉誠修大會 觀音顯聖化金蟬〉". 《西遊記》. 左邊是木叉惠岸，執著棍，抖擻精神。
  8. ^ Wu Cheng'en. "第四十二回〈大聖慇懃拜南海 觀音慈善縛紅孩〉". 《西遊記》. 那菩薩吩咐概眾諸天各守仙境，著善財龍女閉了洞門。他卻縱祥雲，躲離普陀巖，到那邊叫：「惠岸何在？」惠岸（乃托塔李天王第二個太子，俗名木叉是也。）乃菩薩親傳授的徒弟，不離左右，稱為護法惠岸行者。
  9. ^ Miyoko Nakano (2003) [1984]. 《西遊記の秘密 タオと煉丹術のシンボリズム》. 福武書店. pp. 274–275. ISBN 978-4006020705. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Yoshihiro Nikaido (2006). "第一章〈哪吒太子考〉". 《明清期における武神と神仙の発展》. 関西大学東西学術研究所研究叢刊. Vol. 29. 関西大学出版部 (published 2009-02-05). ISBN 9784873544656.
  11. ^ "三教源流搜神大全 – 书格（旧版）". Shuge. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  12. ^ 鄭志明 (2005). 台灣傳統信仰的鬼神崇拜 (in Chinese). 大元書局. ISBN 978-957-29138-6-4.
  13. ^ 袁珂 (1985). 中国神话传说词典 (in Chinese). 上海辞书出版社. ISBN 978-962-07-0072-9.
  14. ^ 吴承恩 (2015). 西游记 (in Chinese). 聯合電子出版有限公司（代理）. ISBN 978-7-5148-2078-2.
  15. ^ 自由時報電子報 (2015-08-11). "迷路台僑 把木吒看成米老鼠 - 生活". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  16. ^ "木吒宮李府二太子 堂皇宏偉巴生地標|中國報". 中國報 China Press. Retrieved 2022-12-01.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Chinese: 慧岸; pinyin: Hùiàn; Wade–Giles: Hui4-an4
  2. ^ Chinese: 慧儼; pinyin: Hùiyián; Wade–Giles: Hui4-yien3
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