The legends of Ji Gong are varied and many.
For centuries, Ji Gong is widely known among the civilians in Hangzhou. Ji Gong is depicted as wearing the tethered cap and dons a torn cassock and holds a broken fan. He did not look like the typical monk.
Ji Gong became a monk at Linyin Temple at the age of 18. He was never a conformist and never abided by dogmas, regulations and standard principles. He liked drinking and eating meat.
Legend has it that after he was asked to leave Linyin Temple, he turned to the Jingci Temple as an amanuensis monk.
On one occasion, fire destroyed the main hall of Jingci Temple. The abbot turned to him for gathering wood for restoring that hall. But instead, he slept for three days from wine drinking. He miraculously exclaimed:"the wood is here, take it from the well." The wood really flew out from the well of temple until there was enough for reconstruction of the hall. To this day, there is a Shenmu Well in Jingci Temple.
One day, Ji Gong predicted there would be a catastrophe from earthquake that would result in a hill taking form in the front of Linyin Temple. For the sake of saving the villagers ,he evacuated the villagers and saved them from disaster. The detail story is as follows.
During his lifetime as man, Ji Gong predicted there would be a peak flying from afar at the village in front of Linyin Temple. He advised the villagers to evacuate. But no one believed in him. They thought he was playing tricks. This made monk Ji Gong worried. He then conceived a way to lure the villagers away in quick time. He rushed into a wedding ceremony and took the bride away. This infuriated the villagers and all ran after him. Suddenly a storm with earthquake resulted in earth movement that resulted in a peak in the front of Lingyin Temple. The villagers then realized that Ji Gong had saved them. This peak came to be known as 'Fei Lai Feng' - the Peak Flown From Afar.
One variant of the story had it that one little girl was staggering behind and trailing behind the villagers running after Ji Gong and a boulder was hurtling towards her. Ji Gong directed his magical palm at the boulder and prevented it from hurting the girl. It is said that an imprint of the hand can be found at the base of the boulder that formed the peak.
One variant of the story had it that one little girl was staggering behind and trailing behind the villagers running after Ji Gong and a boulder was hurtling towards her. Ji Gong directed his magical palm at the boulder and prevented it from hurting the girl. It is said that an imprint of the hand can be found at the base of the boulder that formed the peak.
Undoubtedly, there are many more stories and folklores from Hangzhou. In the past 2000 years or more, the stories were passed down from one generation to another. The narratives were closely connected with ordinary people's daily lives.
What is more striking is that Ji Gong in the last 2000 odd years and more continues to be with people not just at Hangchow but through his manifestations and through his human intermediaries in many countries such as South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan, India and Australia.
He continues to speak through intermediaries and touch peoples' lives. No issue is too trifle for him to attend to. Seek him out and he will be there for you. There is no barter or conditions. He only wants to help and he never sets preconditions that you must be his disciple or believe in a sect, religion or be member of a temple.
You can be of any race, of any belief, religion or of any culture. So long as you have an issue for him to attend to, he will be there for you. All he wants is for you to suffer less, to have a better life and to be good. Whether you can be spiritual or not is not his immediate concern. How he can make a difference in your life is all that matters. He never proselytize or politicize - no expectations of any conditions.
All he wants is to make the difference to your life. The numerous good works of Ji Gong are more than legend. He is accepted in the pantheon of Taoism and Buddhism. He is both a buddha and a deity but he never said that you must be a Buddhist or Taoist to come to him and to seek his help and guidance.
He has the heart to help and that is what counts and that is why many are attracted to him and yet remain as members of their respective culture and religion. You never need to renounce your religion or sect to benefit from his compassion. His compassion knows no boundaries.
You can even be a criminal or wrong doer but if you need help, he will be there for you. Of course, he will try to help you to make good in life.
That is Ji Gong and many have asked him for wins in lottery, for a good job, for health issues and for social problems. There was never any strings attached. You don't have to believe in him or be a Buddhist or Taoist for you to be eligible to seek his compassion.
But invariably after he touched your life, you would and will be a different person - a better person and an asset to others regardless of religion, sect or affiliation. The stories of Ji Gong are unfolding every day and continue to do so. The numerous good works of Ji Gong are more than legends.
Ji Gong will continue to touch more lives. He lives on with man and in man. He is a living saint - a living Buddha. Thus he is Ji Gong Huo Fo.
Ji Gong will continue to touch more lives. He lives on with man and in man. He is a living saint - a living Buddha. Thus he is Ji Gong Huo Fo.
