Ep. 149: How Guan Yu became Qielan
From Daoist to Buddhist
As you probably know, Guanyin is by far the most popular Buddhist figure amongst the "common people" in Chinese-speaking cultures. But if we widen our view a bit--beyond Buddhism into Daoist/folk practices--we find a worthy rival. The 2nd to 3rd-century general Guan Yu is nearly as ubiquitous.
The Gossip
"Guan Yu! Come in. Set down your load and let's chat a while." Wang, the shopkeeper, was always delighted when Guan Yu arrived with his wares--and his words.
"I have some excellent chou doufu for you. It just finished its ferment last night," the bean curd-seller said.
"Never mind that! I'll buy all you have, as usual. I don't know why people like that stinky tofu, but I always sell out," Wang said. "But tell me, what have you been reading?"
And so the two old friends settled in, each with a pipe, and Guan Yu--per the illiterate shopkeeper's request--recited the latest passages from the classics that he had committed to his prodigious memory.
Eventually, the recitation over, the talk turned to gossip (as it always did).