The Image of Confucius in Tibetan Culture

Title

The Image of Confucius in Tibetan Culture

Author

Te-Ming TSENG and Shen-Yu LIN

Page

169-207

DOI

Abstract

Kong tse 'phrul gyi rgyal po is regarded as the innovator of the gTo-rituals, which are performed to solve various problems of daily life. Kong tse 'phrul gyirgyal po is often referred to as an authoritive personage in this ritual whom the evil beings should regard with reverence and awe. Using threat or persuasion, the ritual master forces the spirit to leave so that the victim is freed from troubles. According to the tradition of the gTo-rituals and Sino-Tibetan divination (nag rtsis), to which the gTo-rituals are considered to belong, Kong tse 'phrul gyi rgyal po is the Tibetan equivalent of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479BC). How the Chinese master who did not speak of prodigies, force, disorder, and gods became an important figure in the Tibetan gTo-rituals possessing mystical power arouses curiosity and interest. By utilizing the information from the Tun-huang Tibetan manuscripts, from the Tibetan literature of the Bonpo tradition and of the Buddhist tradition, the authors of this article discuss the image of Confucius and its development in the Tibetan history. For the sake of spreading their own doctrine, the Tibetan Bonpo and Buddhists have demonstrated their talent in shaping a new figure of their own tradition by adapting a famous personage from a neighboring country.

Keyword

Confucius, Sino-Tibetan culture, Tibetan exorcism, Sino-Tibetan divination, Bon-religion

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