Medieval Buddhist of the Day

[Bluesky, 11/27/24] MBOTD: the continuing saga of Lady Hou, the dowager Princess-Consort of Guangchuan. I got through her inscription and wanted to explore it some more here, with a few comments. She begins with the date: 景明四年十月七日。 Fourth year of the Jingming reign, tenth month, seventh day. [This is a date in November of 504 by our calendar] Here’s the image:

廣川王祖母太妃侯，自以流歷彌劫，于法喻遠，囑遇像教，身乘達士。I, the Dowager Princess-Consort Hou, grandmother of the Prince of Guangchuan, have relied on gentlemen of attainment, because as historical ages slip away, we grow farther from the [true] Dharma, and can only encounter the semblance teachings. [I think the “gentlemen of attainment” 達士 must be a reference to her Buddhist teachers, though it, like several other things she says here, is distinctly Daoist-flavored terminology. I also am not sure that 身乘達士 shouldn’t actually be 身承達士, looking at the rubbing, but it comes to much the same thing]

雖奉聯紫暉，早頃片體，孤育幼孫，以紹蕃國，冰薄之心，唯歸真寂。Although I have made my alliance to the purple radiance, my slight body early declined. Left alone to raise my young grandson, and to ensure the succession of the princedom, my heart, as thin and fragile as ice, longs only for true quiescence. [“Purple radiance” sounds Daoist too – in general, when things are purple in medieval China, we’re in Daoist territory – but the Buddha is described in early texts as being purple-gold 紫金 in color and emitting purple-gold light, which is probably what’s meant here. I’m also struck by the strongly somatic metaphors of thinness and fragility – the slight (lit. “flat”) body and heart as thin as ice – that she uses here. There may be something here about discourses on the female incarnation.]

今造彌勒像一區，願此微因，資潤神識，現身永康，朗悟旨覺。Now I have made one image of Maitreya, wishing that through this little merit, my resources may be plentiful and my mind full of understanding, that my present body may remain in good health, with clear awareness and awakened purpose.

遠除曠世無明惚業，又延未來空宗妙果。Let me be free of this world’s dim and blurry karma, and in future let me enjoy the miraculous fruits of the emptiness schools. [In later periods, 空宗 “emptiness schools” would be a clear reference to Sanlun 三論 or Mādhyamaka doctrine, but it’s too early for that in 503; rather, Lady Gao probably means “those who contemplate emptiness” here.]

又願孫息延年，神志速就，胤嗣繁昌，慶光萬世。I further wish that my grandson enjoy long life, that his mind should swiftly mature, and that he should have many flourishing descendants, whose glory is celebrated for ten thousand generations.

帝祚永隆，弘宣妙法，昏愚未悟，咸發菩提。Let the emperor’s power continue to flourish, let the miraculous Dharma be spread widely, and let those who remain unenlightened all attain supreme wisdom [lit. “bodhi”]. [I’m also interested in this pattern of going from specific, for herself and her grandson, to general wishes]