01布袋和尚Cloth-bag Monk
布袋和尚（？～916），名契比，五代后梁人。传说常以杖背一布袋入市，见物即乞，出语无定，随处寝卧，形如疯癫。他死前曾说一偈：“弥勒真弥勒，化身千百亿，时时示时人，时人自不认。”在佛教寺院中常有他的形象，俗称“大肚子弥勒”。
Cloth-bag Monk (? ~ 916) also named Qi Bi, was born in the Later Liang(907 ~ 923 A.D.). Tradition has it that he always carried a staff with a cloth bag suspended on it and went begging for everything. Just like an insane man, he spoke indefinitely and lay down freely, sleeping everywhere. Prior to his death, he left a Buddhist hymn. It says: “Maitreya, true Maitreya. Reborn innumerable times. From time to time manifested to men. The men of the age do not recognize you.” His images often appear in Buddhist monasteries, popularly called “Big-bellied Maitreya”.
02地藏菩萨Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha
地藏菩萨（梵文：Kshitigarbha）是中国佛教四大菩萨之一。他受释迦牟尼嘱托，在释迦牟尼寂灭后、未来佛弥勒诞生前的这段时间承担起超度众生的重任，让他们脱离苦海，不下地狱。地藏菩萨曾发过大愿：“众生度尽，方证菩提；地狱未空，誓不成佛。”Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha is one of the four major Bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism. Exhorted by Sakyamuni, Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha took on heavy responsibilities to release souls of sentient beings from the hell in the period after Sakyamuni’s death and before Maitreya’s birth. In that case, they were able to get rid of this troublesome life and avoid going to hell. He once made a great vow: “Buddhahood is unable to be verified until all sentient beings get enlightened, I am not able to become a Buddha until the hell is empty”.
03阿弥陀佛Amitabha
阿弥陀佛（梵文：Amitabha）亦称“无量光佛”或“无量光如来”，因能接引芸芸众生往生“西方净土”，故亦称“接引佛”。在过去久远劫时，他曾立大愿，建立西方净土，广度无边众生，成就庄严功德，因而受到大乘佛教广大信众的崇敬。在造像艺术中，他右手下垂，掌心向前结施愿印，左手持莲花，结施予印。在密教中，阿弥陀佛象征大日如来的妙观察智，名为“甘露王”。阿弥陀佛共有13个名号，“无量寿佛”就是其中一个名号。Amitabha is also known as “Lord of Boundless Light” or “Buddha of Unlimited Light”. He can lead all sentient beings to be reborn in the Pure Land, so he is also called “Leading Buddha”. In the past aeons (Skt. Kalpa), he made great vows to establish the Pure Land, make great efforts to enlighten all sentient beings and achieve solemn merits and virtues. Therefore, he is broadly adored by adherents of the Greater Vehicle of Buddhism. In sculptural art, he hangs down his right hand with his palm forwards, giving a vow-fulfilling gesture, and in the meanwhile, he holds a lotus with his left hand, also giving a boon-granting gesture. In Tantric Buddhism, Amitabha symbolizes Vairocana’s discrimination wisdom, so he is also called “Dew King”. He enjoys thirteen titles, and Amitayus is one of them.
04金刚杵Vajra Club
金刚杵（梵文：Vajra）是古代印度的一种武器，坚固无比，能打碎任何东西，故冠以金刚之名。在密教中，它象征摧破烦恼的菩提心（梵文：Bodhicitta）。金刚杵是金刚乘佛教坚不可摧的典型象征。“金刚”二字既是金刚杵的名称，也是一群以金刚冠名的神灵、器物和力士的称号或前缀。佛教的金刚杵象征着绝对现实的难以捉摸、不会毁灭、不可撼动、不可改变、无形和坚不可摧毁的状态，即佛性的圆满。As a kind of extremely solid weapon in ancient India, Vajra clubs are able to break everything, so named “diamond club”. In Tantric Buddhism, it symbolizes mind of enlightenment (Skt. Bodhicitta), which is able to smash emotional troubles. As a typical sign, it displays a typical feature of indestructible nature of Vajrayana Buddhism. “Vajra” not only serves as a Vajra club’s title, but also refers to a group of deities’ titles or prefixes as well as attributes or warriors in the name of Vajra. In Buddhism, it also symbolizes the impenetrable, imperishable, immovable, immutable, indivisible and indestructible state of absolute reality, that is, the enlightenment of Buddhahood.
05佛旗Buddhist Flag
佛教旗帜分为六色，是佛陀圣体之光。佛陀于公元前588年在印度菩提迦耶菩提树下修成正等正觉时，圣体即放光明，而后，在其一生随意大放光明，以六色光体化导众生。六色分为蓝、黄、红、白、橙及以上五色合为的一色，即第六色。Buddhist flag has six colors, which represent lights of Buddha’s holy body. At a time when Buddha attained full enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya of India in 588 B.C., his holy body immediately emitted lights. Henceforth, he optionally gave out lights in the rest of his life and made use of six colored illuminating bodies to enlighten all sentient beings. Six colors include blue, yellow, red, white, orange and the color mixed with the five colors mentioned above.
06佛祖释迦牟尼Buddha Sakyamuni
佛祖释迦牟尼（梵文：Sakyamuni）原名乔达摩·悉达多（梵文：Siddhārtha Gautama）。“释迦牟尼”原意为释迦族出身的圣者，他是古印度著名的思想家和佛教创始人。释迦牟尼出生在今尼泊尔南部的蓝毗尼。幼年时他曾接受过传统的婆罗门教育，后有感于人生之生、老、病、死带来的各种痛苦，舍弃王族身份，出家修道，被后世尊为“佛陀”（Buddha，意为“觉者”）。根据佛经的说法，释迦牟尼像应有三十二大相和八十种好。Buddha Sakyamuni was originally called “Siddhārtha Gautama”. “Sakyamuni” originally meant “sage from Sakya Family”. He is a well-known ancient Indian thinker and founder of Buddhism. He was born in current Lumbini in south of Nepal. In his childhood, he received traditional Brahman education, and later on, he felt various sufferings of life caused by birth, old age, sickness and death. As a result, he abandoned his royal family and became a monk. He was revered as “Buddha” (“The Awakened”). According to Buddhist texts, Buddha Sakyamuni statue should have thirty-two signs and eighty major marks.
07观音菩萨Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva
佛教徒把观音菩萨（梵文：Avalokiteshvara）视为救苦救难之神。通常，观音菩萨既可呈男相亦可呈女相。唐代以前以男相居多，后来的观音像越来越趋向于女性化，其相貌端庄慈祥，经常手持净瓶杨柳。她具有无量的智慧和神通，大慈大悲，普救人间灾难。Buddhist adherents view Goddess of Mercy (Skt. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva) as a deity who can help people in sufferings and disasters. Usually, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva takes on both masculine and feminine appearance. Before the Tang Dynasty, masculine appearance was in great majority. Afterwards, statues of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva gradually tended to take on feminine appearance. With a dignified and kind facial expression, she frequently holds a bottle of pure water with a willow wand in it. With immeasurable wisdom, supernatural power and great compassion, she is able to save all people from disasters on earth.
08菩提树Bodhi Tree
菩提一词是梵文“Bodhi”的音译，其意为觉悟、智慧，指人们大彻大悟，达到超凡脱俗的境界。据传，佛祖释迦牟尼在无花果树下成道，而在当时无花果树亦称“菩提树”或“道树”。唐代高僧神秀和慧能用对话形式以物表意、借物论道，有两首著名的偈诗流传，前一首是：“身是菩提树，心如明镜台。时时勤拂拭，勿使惹尘埃。”后一首是：“菩提本无树，明镜亦非台。本来无一物，何处惹尘埃。”诗作的流传使菩提树更加声名远扬。
As a Sanskrit transliteration, Bodhi has meanings of enlightenment and wisdom and refers to one’s profound and complete realization and extraordinary refined mind. Tradition has it that Buddha Sakyamuni got enlightened under a fig tree. At that time, fig trees were also called Bodhi trees or trees of enlightenment. A pair of senior fellow apprentices named Shen Xiu and Hui Neng wrote Zan poems in dialogues in the Tang Dynasty. They employed things to express and discuss their ideas. The former is: “Like a Bodhi tree is my body. Like a bright mirror stand is my heart. They need cleaning from time to time. No dust is allowed to fall there.” The latter is: “Bodhi is not a tree at all. Bright mirror has not a stand. Nothing is actually there. Dust falls nowhere.” Bodhi tree’s fame spreads far and wide because of the circulation of these two poems.
09瑜伽、瑜伽师与瑜伽母Yoga, Yogi and Yogini
瑜伽（梵文：Yoga）一词源于古印度，其意为一致、结合或和谐。瑜伽行派（梵文：Yogacara）是古印度六大哲学派别之一，与中观学派并为印度大乘佛教的两大派别。瑜伽是指通过观想思悟佛教“真理”的一种修行方法。在佛教中，瑜伽师（梵文：Yogi）亦称“成道者”或“瑜伽行者”，指的是修行瑜伽宗的佛教徒。女性瑜伽行者称作瑜伽母（梵文：Yogini）。现代社会所倡导的瑜伽主要是一系列修身养性的方法。
“Yoga” in Sanskrit originated from ancient India, meaning “coherence”, “combination” and “compatibility”. As one of the six major ancient Indian philosophical schools, Yogacara School and the Middle Way School are viewed as major schools of Indian Mahayana Buddhism. As a practice method, Yoga practice is used for people to have a thorough insight into Buddhist “truths” through visualizations. In Buddhism, “Yogis”, also known as “enlightened ones” or “Yogacara practitioners”, refer to male Yoga practitioners while “Yoginis” represents female Yoga practitioners. Yoga practices advocated in modern society serve as a series of methods to cultivate people’s minds.
10《本生经》Jatakas
《本生经》亦称《佛本生传记》，它是一部印度佛教寓言故事集，大约产生于公元前3世纪。根据佛教的说法，释迦牟尼成佛前只是一位菩萨，经过了无数次的转生才最终成佛。《本生经》叙述了佛陀前生曾为国王、婆罗门、商人、女人、大象、猴时所行善业功德的寓言故事，以颂扬佛陀，宣扬佛教的基本教义。现存的《本生经》共收录547个故事，绝大部分源自印度民间的寓言、故事、神话、传说。Jatakas, also known as Stories of Buddha’s Previous Incarnations, is a collection of Indian Buddhist fables. It probably originated in the third century B.C. According to Buddhist doctrines, Sakyamuni was only a Bodhisattva before he obtained full enlightenment. He finally became a Buddha after countless times of rebirth. Jatakas describes his good deeds and merits in his previous incarnations as a king, a Braham, a merchant, a woman, an elephant and a monkey, thereby praising Buddha and publicizing Buddhist doctrines. The existing Jatakas contains 547 stories, most of which come from Indian folk fables, stories, myths and legends.
11佛塔Stupas
佛塔代表佛的“意”并存有他的灵骨。在象征意义上，佛塔有一整套的肖像意义，每个组成部分都代表通往圆满之路的某个具体方面。佛陀释迦牟尼涅槃（梵文：Nirvana）后不久，各地徒众分别兴建佛塔，共有八座，分别是：善逝塔、菩提塔、法轮塔、神变塔、天降塔、和好塔、尊胜塔和涅槃塔。除了八大佛塔外，流行于噶当派寺院的噶当塔是元代比较典型的艺术造型。 Stupas are representatives of Buddha’s mind and used to keep his holy relics. Symbolically, Stupas contain a whole set of iconographical meanings. Each component represents a certain aspect to the enlightened path. After his peaceful detachment (Skt. Nirvana), his disciples from all sides separately set up eight great Stupas,including Enlightenment Stupa, Bodhi Stupa, Dharma-wheel Stupa, Miraculous Stupa, Descent Stupa, Harmonious Stupa, Victorious Stupa and Nirvana Stupa. In addition, bKav-gdams Stupas prevalent in monasteries of bKav-gdams-pa Sect are a typical modeling of the Yuan Dynasty.
12供养与供养人Offering Sacrifices and Benefactors
供养亦称“供施”，供养人亦称“施主”。“供”指的是以财宝、衣物、花香对佛、法、僧三宝进行心、物两方面的供奉。因僧侣在修行时需要摈弃一切外缘，因此无法自谋生活必需品，而需要信众的布施。僧人接受别人的供养后，不要忘记替施主回向。供养人指的是通过提供资金、物品或劳力来制作圣像、开凿石窟、修造宗教场所来弘扬佛教教义的虔诚信徒。“Offering sacrifices” and “benefactors” are respectively known as “making offerings” and “donators”. “Offering sacrifices” means to provide money and valuables, costumes, flowers and joss sticks in mental and physical worship of Three Jewels. Monks need to break off all external connections in meditations, so it is hard for them to look for necessaries of life for themselves. As a result, they need donations from religious adherents. However, after receiving donations from others, they should remember to transfer merits to others. Benefactors refer to some pious religious adherents, who donate money and provide goods or labor forces to make holy sculptures, dig caves and set up religious sites so as to disseminate Buddhist teachings.
13涅槃Nirvana
涅槃（梵文：Nirvana）亦称“寂灭”或“圆寂”，是死亡的美称，有“不生不灭”之意。涅槃是佛教修证的最高境界。通过修道彻底地断灭烦恼，广积功德，超越生死轮回，才能达到这种“不生不灭”的涅槃状态。Nirvana, also known as “still quiescence” or “in a detachment state”, is a laudatory title of “death” with a meaning of “neither arising nor ceasing”. Nirvana is a supreme level in Buddhist meditations and enlightenment. Only by thoroughly cutting off troubles through meditations on Dharma, greatly accumulating merits and transcending the cycle of birth and death, could people reach a “neither arising nor ceasing” Nirvana state.
14行脚僧Roaming Monks
行脚僧亦称“游方僧”或“云水僧”。“云水”之名源自禅宗参禅学道的云水意境。行脚僧指的是或为自我修持，或为教化他人，或为寻访名师高僧而居无定所、四处云游的僧人，可独行或多人同行。Roaming monks are called “Walking Monks” or “Yunshui Monks”. The Chinese term “Yunshui” (cloud and water) originated from the poetic imagery in meditations on Zen Sect’s doctrines. Roaming monks refer to a group of monks without definite residences who wander here and there for the purpose of conducting self-meditation, enlightening others or searching for great masters and eminent monks. Either a single monk or a group of monks can wander in this way.
15因果报应Retribution for Sins
因果报应（梵文：Karma）亦称“果报”，指的是事物的起因和结果。它起源于佛教的宿命论，认为种的什么因，就会结什么果报，这也是佛教关于善恶报应的基本学说。因果报应分为现报、生报和速报三类。现报指的是现作善恶之因，现受苦乐之报，生报指的是前生作业今生报或今生作业来生报，速报就是眼前作业眼下受报。Retribution for sins (Skt. Karma) is also known as “this Karma”. It refers to cause and result of things. It originated from Buddhist fatalism, which believes that a certain cause surely brings a certain result. It is also a basic Buddhist theory on retribution for good or evil deeds. Retribution for sins can be classified into retribution before our eyes, retribution for this or future deeds and quick retribution. The first retribution means that good or evil deeds will bring retribution of suffering and pleasure. The second one refers to the fact that one’s deeds in his previous life will bring retribution in this life or one’s deeds in this life will bring retribution in his future life. The third one reveals the fact that one’s deeds in his present life will bring retribution at once.
16慧眼Wisdom Eye
慧眼（梵文：Urna）亦称“天目”或“第三只眼”，源于印度教湿婆神的巨大慧眼。佛教有肉眼、天眼、慧眼、法眼和佛眼五眼之说，它们是可以观察不同对象的五种眼力。慧眼泛指能照见实相的智慧，洞察凡间的一切。在佛像（如千手千眼观音像的掌心上）、佛塔或佛教建筑上常可看到形态各异的慧眼。Wisdom eye (Skt. Urna), known as “divine eye” or “the third eye”, originated from Hindus Shiva’s huge eyes. In Buddhism, eyes can be classified into bodily vision, divine vision, wisdom vision, Dharma vision and Buddha vision, representative of five visions used to observe different objects. Wisdom eye generally refers to the wisdom to realize the real truth and see through everything on earth. Wisdom eyes in different shapes can be seen on Buddha statues (for example, on One Thousand-handed and One Thousand-eyed Avalokiteshvara’s palms), pagodas or Buddhist architectures.
17浴佛节Buddha Bathing Festival
浴佛节亦称“浴佛诞”，始于东汉，盛行于唐宋，传延至今。据传，释迦牟尼降生时，一手指天，一手指地，口说：“天上天下，唯吾独尊”。于是大地震动，九条巨龙吐水为其沐浴。自此，各地佛教徒均以浴佛的方式纪念佛祖的诞辰。每逢此日，僧尼都会供奉香花灯烛，并将铜佛置于水中，进行清理洗浴。届时，普通信众会争舍财钱、放生、求子，祈求佛祖的保佑。Buddha Bathing Festival, also known as “Buddha’s Birth Festival”, originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty and prevailed in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It is still popular up to today. Tradition has it that Sakyamuni pointed at the sky and the earth with both his hands after his birth, saying:“Me, myself and I rule the world.” As a result, the ground shook and nine giant dragons spat out water to bathe him. From then on, Buddhist adherents from all directions would wash Buddha statues in commemoration of his birthday. On that day, monks and nuns would offer joss sticks, flowers, lamps and candles and place copper Buddha statues into water to wash and clean them. On these occasions, common people would try to be the first to give donations, free captured animals, seek for babies and pray for Buddha’s blessings.
18敦煌石窟Dunhuang Grotto
敦煌石窟坐落在甘肃河西走廊的西端，是我国和世界珍贵的历史文化遗产。它始建于东晋十六国的前秦时期，经历代的扩建，形成巨大的规模。敦煌石窟南北长1680米，高50米，洞窟错落有致地分布在鸣沙山多达五层的断崖上。敦煌石窟以精美绝伦的壁画和栩栩如生的塑像闻名遐迩。敦煌石窟共有洞窟735个，壁画面积达4.5万平方米，泥质彩塑共有2415尊。1987年甘肃敦煌莫高窟被列为世界文化遗产名录，成为世界上现存的规模最大、内容最为丰富的佛教艺术宝库。Dunhuang Grotto is situated in the western end of Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province. As a valuable historical and cultural heritage in China and in the whole world, it was built in the Pre-Qin period (351-394) among sixteen kingdoms of Eastern Jin. After expansions in several dynasties, it formed such a large scale. Dunhuang Grotto is 1, 680 meters long from south to north, and 50 meters high. Caves are distributed well-proportionally on five-layer bluffs of the Singing Sand Mountain. Dunhuang Grotto is famous far and wide for its exquisite murals and lifelike sculptures. It has 735 caves, a mural area forty-five thousand square meters and 2,415 clay painted sculptures. In 1987, Gansu Dunhuang Mogao Grotto was listed on the World Cultural Heritage Directory, becoming the largest extant Buddhist treasure with luxuriant content in the whole world.
19蒙人驭虎图Picture Depicting a Mongol Driving a Tiger
蒙人驭虎图经常绘制在寺院和民宅门廊的墙壁上，寓意祛灾消难、招纳吉祥。图中有一位蒙古勇士，手持铁链牵着一只斑斓猛虎。据称，蒙古勇士、铁链和猛虎分别象征着佛教密宗部三怙主观音菩萨、文殊菩萨和金刚手菩萨。此图是藏传佛教艺术壁画题材和藏族传统吉祥图案之一，有着极为深刻的寓意。人们希望它能带来三怙主的庇护，祛邪引福。民间认为，此图可以防瘟疫，带来吉祥。Picture Depicting a Mongol Driving a Tiger is always painted on walls of monasteries or porches of private residences. The moral of this picture is “eliminating disasters and bringing good luck”. In this picture, a Mongol warrior holds an iron chain which ties down a bright-colored tiger. Purportedly, Mongol warrior, iron chain and tiger respectively symbolize Tantric Buddhist Three Masters (Avalokiteshvara, Manjusri and Vajrapani Bodhisattvas). As one of the mural themes in Tibetan Buddhism and one of the traditional Tibetan auspicious patterns, it contains a profound moral. It is hoped that it could bring Three Masters’ protection and blessings and to eliminate disasters. This picture is believed to prevent pestilences and bring good luck.
20印章Seals
印章用于文件上以表示鉴定或签署。在西藏历史上有许多重要的印章值得一提。如：白兰王印、敕封班臣额尔德尼之印、灌顶国师之印、西天大善自在佛所领天下释教普通瓦赤喇怛喇达赖喇嘛之印等。Seals are used on documents to show identifications or signatures. In the history of Tibet, many important seals are worth mentioning, such as Seal of Prince of Pave-lan, Imperial Seal to Panchen Erdeni, Seal of State Initiation Tutor, Seal of Dalai Lama, Buddha of Great Compassion in the West, Leader of the Buddhist Faith beneath the Sky, Holder of the Vajra, etc.
信息来源：中国外文局
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