Ullambana Blessing Text for the Second Prince (為二太子中元盂蘭薦福文)

About 為二太子中元盂蘭薦福文

557 · about 2 min

The "Text for Recommending Blessings at the Ullambana Festival for the Second Crown Prince" is a Buddhist text for recommending blessings, composed by the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Master Xuanzang for Li Xiao, the prematurely deceased second son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian. Created in the 7th century, its context blends imperial funeral culture with the filial piety concepts of the Buddhist Ullambana Festival. Based entirely on the Ullambana Sutra, the text elucidates the merits of making offerings to the Three Jewels, repenting, and dedicating merits, aiming to liberate the deceased and pray for blessings and the dispelling of calamities. This document not only serves as tangible evidence of the Buddhist faith within the Tang imperial family but also profoundly embodies the fusion of Buddhism with traditional Chinese filial piety. It holds significant historical importance for the study of the Sinicization of Buddhism and the development of Ullambana Festival rituals, and stands as one of the exemplary models of Buddhist texts for the deceased.