The Tale of Monk Jigong
Daoji often disguised himself as an insane monk of boundless virtue and performed many miracles to help the unfortunate and punish the wicked and the unscrupulous as well as using his power to destroy evil spirits and monsters.
In and after his life, there are many stories about him. The tale of Jigong is based on a real story and emphasizes the mysterious supernaturalism with imaginative plots. The tale reflects the social life and Zen doctrines. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911AD), his story became widely known across the country.
Over 800 years, the tale has become an endless literary resource. His story was also made into novels, paintings, sculptures, movies, and TV plays. Meanwhile, the tale surely can play a role in enhancing national morals and ethos.
With the transformation of society, the tale of Jigong is dying out, and the effective measures to protect it shall be taken as soon as possible.
|