Chapter 4 (2/2)

The three of the the scriptures that they were going to bring to the imperial court In the latter half of the Goryeo dynasty of the thirteenth century, Korea had spent several decades to carve the renowned Tripitaka Koreana6, the Vinaya, Sutras, and the Abidharma Out of ten thousand scrolls in total, there were also nearly three thousand copies of the dharhty thousand wooden plaques carved with scripture Referred to as the “Goryeo Tripitaka”, this enco and Khitan7 It was vast and erudite, as well as strictly checked against authoritative texts Many of the Buddhist dharmas were not even possible to find in China, so this was a rare ge Taejo and Lotus had specially discussed whether or not to bring this set of scripture to consciously display the peaceful humility of Korea, but at the same time, convey that they were not to be dismissed

“I only protect the princess I don’t care about the scriptures or about you” Hai Shou crossed his are body was always standing erectly straight, est martial arts practitioners His thin lips, srave severity He was always sparring with his words and smiles

Shan Xi was hotly irritated “Leavefor me!”

Lotus found it a the two bicker These tere as if they had been eneht whenever they met, and it only ever ended when Hai Shou was silent and said no more

Master Zichao walked over slowly at this time, and the three of thereet hiinally diminutive body seemed to have shrunken even more – he seemed even shorter than Lotus His white , with a pair of unusually warm and lively eyes on his wrinkled face

Master Zichao looked at the h to the rafters, their numbers such that they would make even an ox perspire He sood indeed, indeed!”

Lotus quickly said, “This is what your disciple should be doing, Master gives overly high praise”

Master Zichao picked up a copy of scripture and started paging through it, not speaking for a while

Lotus asked out of curiosity, “Master’s been to the iht? What is it like?”

Zichao thought for a moment and said slowly “I studied forfar and wide The reach of the imperial court is vast, and its history is illustrious Its military and civil accomplishments can hold its own all over the world, and absolutely not so that ols once ran rampant over the land, but were finally expelled in the end” He paused and then said, “There are a galaxy of talents in the ist the general population, with experts present in large numbers The princess has a pure heart and spirit, and should adhere to the word of ‘endure’ on this trip, above all else”

“Thank you for master’s reminders, your disciple will keep this in mind”

Master Zichao put down the book of scripture in his hand, and took out two letters He asked, “Will the princess pass by Beiping?”

“Your disciple will naturally pass by, given master’s instructions”

Master Zichao passed the letters onto Lotus and said, “One of these is for Master Hui Qin, he is a Zen in with The other is for the Indian uan Tearding scripture and ether Twenty years have passed by in the blink of an eye, I wonder how the two of theazed off into the distance as he spoke

Lotus took the letters with both hands and comforted him, “Your disciple will surely deliver the letters The two of the Zen like master, with boundless fortune They are surely both quite well, Master should not be overly concerned”

Master Zichao nodded and held another item in his palm He said, “And this” Lotus took a careful look It was a tiny nine layered tower Although it was only two inches tall, it was pure and flawless, glittering and transparents, sparkling the light of lazurite, but she didn’t knohat it was made of

Master Zichao continued to speak, “This is the Tower of Glass, and was given to e of Pochon Teenerations It has accompanied me for many years Lazurite is the head of the seven treasures of Buddhis up the shadows of the three worlds9 Take it with you, the power of Buddha is incredible and unbounded May it keep you safe”

“Master… this is too precious, your disciple cannot have this” Lotus’ eyes were teary as she looked at Zichao

“Your o to the heavens at soain after you set out for this trip” Master Zichao said slowly, his face callistening and translucent as lazurite In his gaze upon Lotus, his benevolent eyes were suffused with reluctance

“Master!” Lotus’ eyes briround with both knees, accepting the tower of glass with both hands

Light flowed throughout the tower of glass as if it had life Had generations of zen iven life to the tower in their benevolence? Had the thirty years ofbeen infused into the tower? Or was it that the tower of glass was already an acclaimed bodhi, and had merely descended to the mortal real their cycle of life?

Lotus cupped the tower of glass as she was bowed at Zichao’s feet, speaking through tears, “May Master obtain the wisdom of the bodhi in your next life, your body as lazurite; clear on the inside and outside, flawless and without stain, extensive in your light”

Master Zichao’s warm, clear eyes, also sparkled with tears

1 Hall in which king grants formal audiences↩

2 Pang is the Chinese character for fat↩

3 Traditionally a place where the Chinese crown prince lives↩

4 A e of overseeing all banquets, food and drink for all rituals, etc↩

5 enwikipediaorg/wiki/Ranks_of_i↩

6 Three ories of text that is Buddhist canonenwikipediaorg/wiki/Tripiṭaka↩

7 enwikipediaorg/wiki/Khitan_people↩

8 chinabuddhismencyclopediacom/en/indexphp/Seven_Treasures↩

9 enwikipediaorg/wiki/Trailokya↩