Chapter 176 — A Mundane Buddhist Hall
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 6
Not understanding, Ming Li looked at the Venerable Pucheng in some confusion. The Venerable Pucheng lowered his head and softly invoked the Buddha's name, then rose from the meditation bed and stood, saying to Ming Li, "Before you ask me, let me take you to see someone first."
Ming Li was startled. "See someone? Who?" he asked.
Pucheng did not answer, only walked outward, saying slowly, "This person has wanted to see you for a long time. And I know that you, too, must very much wish to see him."
Ming Li was astonished, yet he found himself following instinctively. Somehow his palms had grown damp with sweat, and his heart suddenly raced, as though somewhere ahead there was something that filled him with dread.
Facheng had been standing quietly outside the meditation room all along. Seeing the Venerable Pucheng emerge so soon with Ming Li, his expression did not change; he merely stepped back and stood to one side. The Venerable Pucheng glanced at him and nodded, then without a word led Ming Li in another direction—toward the last small courtyard of the three-courtyard compound, tucked against a mountain wall.
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Note 1: The auspicious beasts carved on the upturned eaves of halls are an architectural regulation unique to ancient China, with extremely detailed rules. The number of such beasts was strictly prescribed from the emperor down to officials and ordinary households, and could not be exceeded; to do so was disrespect, punishable by death, even the extermination of one's clan. Since ancient times, throughout all of China there has been only one building with ten auspicious beasts on its roof—the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, the only one in the world. The temple here is fictional; readers are kindly asked to smile at it.
Note 2: Burning incense and worshipping the Buddha on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month is prevalent in China, where Buddhism has spread widely. It is sometimes called a dharma service, sometimes a Buddhist gathering—from the Yonghe Temple in Beijing to small temples in the countryside of Fujian in the south, most are like this. I grew up watching my grandmother burn incense, and she still does so today. As I write this, thinking of it, I cannot help but sigh.