Sun Wukong in the Purple Bamboo Forest Guanyin Bodhisattva

Sun Wukong was in the Purple Bamboo Forest, enjoying the spring with Guan Yin Bodhisattva. The Black Bamboo Forest was the residence of Guanyin Bodhisattva. When Sun Wukong encountered difficulties, he would go to the Black Bamboo Forest to ask Guanyin Bodhisattva for help. The Purple Bamboo Forest scenic area had the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest and other scenic spots related to Guanyin Bodhisattva. Guan Yin Bodhisattva was also one of the people whom Sun Wukong saved. However, the details of Sun Wukong and Guan Yin Bodhisattva's activities and interactions in the Black Bamboo Forest were not provided in the literature.

There was no special relationship between Sun Wukong and Guan Yin Bodhisattva. They were more like a leader and an employee. In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong protected Tang Sanzang and his disciples, killing demons along the way and experiencing 81 difficulties. Guan Yin Bodhisattva had appeared many times, mainly to help them overcome the calamity and point out the direction of the solution. Guanyin Bodhisattva was a timely rain for Tang Sanzang and his disciples, a silent worker behind them. Guan Yin Bodhisattva was not only helping Sun Wukong, but also helping the four of them to complete the mission of obtaining scriptures together. There was no personal relationship between them. There was a Buddha statue on Guan Yin Bodhisattva's head. It was a small statue of Amitabha. Perhaps it was because Amitabha was her master that it had an impact on her cultivation. Guan Yin Bodhisattva chose to maintain her Bodhisattva status and not become a Buddha because she was famous for her boundless compassion and deep wisdom. She vowed never to become a Buddha until all living beings were free from the sea of suffering. This determination to be compassionate might have something to do with the deep master-disciple relationship between her and Amitabha.

The Investiture of the Gods was an ancient Chinese novel in which Guanyin Bodhisattva was one of the main characters. In the novel, Guan Yin Bodhisattva was portrayed as a compassionate and saving Bodhisattva who often helped the protagonists solve various problems. In the novel, Guan Yin Bodhisattva had once saved the Shang Dynasty's monarch, King Zhou, from a disaster. Therefore, in the novel, Guan Yin Bodhisattva was an important character and was described in great detail.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's mantra for treating incurable diseases was the mantra used by Guanyin Bodhisattva to treat various incurable diseases. These mantras were widely circulated in the Kangzang region and were widely used. Among them, there were two common mantras. One was the six-character Daming Mantra (Om, Ma, Ni, Pa, Mi, Hum), and the other was Om, Pilunaqi, Jandu Hobby, Mishama, Xueha (Mu), Jandu Qizaibei Nada, Pilaya, Stud, etc. These mantras were believed to be able to treat all kinds of difficult illnesses, including physical and mental illnesses. Although some people claimed that Guan Yin Bodhisattva could cure incurable diseases, there was no scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness. Therefore, there was no conclusive answer as to whether Guan Yin Bodhisattva was really effective in treating difficult and miscellaneous diseases.

In the bamboo forest, one could experience tranquility and closeness with nature. The breeze in the bamboo forest blew gently, and the bamboo leaves rustled, making people feel the whispers of nature. There were also streams flowing in the bamboo forest, and spring bamboo shoots broke through the soil, giving people a happy and relaxed feeling. Nanshan Bamboo Sea was a place to stroll. The air was fresh and pure, and the fragrance of bamboo leaves was everywhere. In addition, the Hundred Sceneries Map of Jiangnan also had a quest to build pavilions and beautiful scenery in the bamboo forest. It could be completed by planting willow trees or building quiet bamboo workshops and watering pavilions. In short, one could enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature in the bamboo forest.

The bamboo forest of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest was located in Shanyang County, which was now Huixian City, Henan Province. In Shanyang County, there were dense bamboo forests growing in both Ji Kang's Garden Mansion and Ji Mountain Villa. In the south, there was also a spring that spewed all year round, known as the Bamboo Forest Spring. This information could prove that the bamboo forest of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove indeed existed in Shanyang County, which was today's Huixian City.

The bamboo forest of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest referred to the bamboo forest in Shanyang County (now Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, probably in the area of Yuntai Mountain) at that time.

The purple and golden bamboos referred to the material of the calabash. According to the descriptions in document 1 and document 2, the purple bamboo's tone was relatively soft and warm, suitable for playing some melodious and lyrical songs, while the golden bamboo's tone was relatively large and not soft enough. In addition, the purple bamboo had a high sound quality stability and was not easily affected by moisture. It had a long service life, while the golden bamboo had a short service life. Therefore, the choice of purple bamboo or golden bamboo depended on personal preferences, budget, and the environment. Generally speaking, the purple bamboo and the golden bamboo each had their own advantages. There was no clear answer.

The green bamboo and the purple bamboo were very different in appearance. The bamboo poles of the Green Bamboo were green, while the bamboo poles of the Purple Bamboo were purple. They were all suitable for growing in the courtyard. Green bamboo represented lush greenery, while purple bamboo represented purple qi from the east, which could bring good luck to the family. Regardless of whether they chose to plant green bamboo or purple bamboo, they could create a beautiful landscape in the courtyard. The specific type of bamboo to choose depended on personal preference and meaning. In addition, the gold-inlaid jade bamboo was also a kind of bamboo suitable for planting in the courtyard. It had high ornamental value, fast growth speed, and tenacious vitality. In general, green bamboo, purple bamboo, and gold-inlaid jade bamboo were all excellent ornamental bamboos. They could be planted according to personal preferences and needs.

The bamboo forest of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest referred to the place where they often gathered, sang, and exchanged words. It was the bamboo forest in Shanyang County (now northwest of Hui County, Henan Province). This place should be a quiet place with green bamboos. The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove often drank and sang here, indulging in their pleasures. Thus, they were known as the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.