Materials: Fabric, Embroidery, Horizontal Hanging, Eight Auspicious Symbols, Pleated Hem

Dimensions: 270 x 46 cm

Description:

In Buddhism, horizontal hangings in Buddhist halls are often referred to as "chanting streamers" or "prayer streamers" (also known as streamers). These are decorative hangings made of fabric, commonly found in temples, shrines, or at religious ceremonies. They are often long or square, hung horizontally from walls, door lintels, pillars, or high up outdoors. They are often inscribed with Buddhist scriptures, mantras, Buddha images, or auspicious designs. The following details their role in Buddhist rituals, their origins, and the stories surrounding them.

Role in Buddhist Ritual

Buddhist rituals emphasize solemnity and symbolism. Horizontal hangings (chanting streamers) play multiple roles, primarily creating a sacred atmosphere, expressing reverence, and assisting with spiritual practice and prayer. Specifically:

- **Dignity and Offerings**: In Buddhist halls or temples, horizontal prayer flags are often hung above or around Buddha statues as a solemn offering to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. They symbolize the victory and spread of the Dharma and add a solemn touch to the ceremony. For example, during ceremonies, chanting, or memorial services, hanging prayer flags can add a sense of solemnity to the space, helping participants focus and enter a state of meditation or prayer. Yellow or red prayer flags with Buddhist mantras such as "Namo Amitabha" are common in Chinese Buddhist halls, while Tibetan Buddhism prefers multicolored prayer flags, representing the Five Buddhas or the Five Elements (blue, white, red, green, and yellow, representing sky, water, fire, wind, and earth, respectively).

- **Blessings and Disaster-Repelling**: During rituals, prayer flags are seen as a medium for conveying prayers. Believers believe that when the wind blows, the prayer flags are equivalent to reciting the scriptures, spreading positive energy, purifying the environment, and praying for peace and prosperity. During Tibetan Buddhist rituals such as circumambulation and pilgrimage, horizontal banners are often hung at mountain passes or riverbanks, symbolizing harmony between humanity and nature and seeking divine protection and protection from disaster. Chinese Buddhist rituals (such as the Water and Land Ritual) also use banners to liberate the deceased, symbolizing the guidance of souls to the Pure Land.

- **Symbolic and Educational Significance**: Banners are not only decorative but also serve an educational purpose. They remind believers of the universal victory of the Dharma and encourage spiritual practice. For example, during temple entrance ceremonies or festivals, the hanging of banners symbolizes the "Eternal Turning of the Dharma Wheel," encouraging participants to uphold the precepts and cultivate good deeds.

Overall, horizontal banners integrate visual, symbolic, and practical aspects into rituals, making abstract Buddhist principles more accessible and strengthening the believer's experience of faith.

Origin and Historical Evolution

The origins of horizontal banners can be traced back to the early days of Buddhism in ancient India. They blended local customs with Buddhist doctrines, and later evolved into distinctive features of different schools as Buddhism spread.

**Originated in Ancient India**: Buddhism was founded in India in the 6th century BC. The flag, originally derived from an ancient Indian banner (Sanskrit: patākā), was originally used as a symbol of victory and authority during wars and ceremonies. The founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha, incorporated it into his teachings, transforming it into an offering symbolizing the Dharma's victory over ignorance. Early Buddhist texts such as the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Vinaya Pitaka mention flags as ornaments used to adorn pagodas and temples, offerings to the Buddha. As Buddhism developed, flags began to be inscribed with scriptures, becoming a tool for spreading its teachings.

**Integration into Local Culture**: After Buddhism was introduced to China (around the 1st century AD), flags were influenced by Han culture and evolved into horizontal banners or cloth curtains, commonly found in temples. By the Tang and Song dynasties, flags were widely used in ceremonies. Made of materials ranging from silk to cotton, with colors primarily yellow and red, they symbolized imperial power and auspiciousness. Tibetan Buddhism, which arrived in Tibet around the 7th century, was influenced by the indigenous Bon religion. The Bon tradition of using colorful flags for prayers was transformed into prayer flags by Buddhism, inscribed with mantras, making them a unique cultural symbol. The five-color design of prayer flags originated from Bon religion's nature worship and later merged with Buddhism's Five Directions Buddha.

- **Historical Evolution**: In the Middle Ages, prayer flags spread along the Silk Road, influencing Buddhism in Central and Southeast Asia. Modern-day, horizontally hung cloths retain this tradition, but are made of more durable materials (such as polyester) and incorporate environmental considerations. Whether in Han or Tibetan tradition, the origins of prayer flags reflect Buddhism's inclusiveness, transforming secular customs into tools for spiritual practice.

Related Stories and Legends

Stories related to horizontally hung prayer flags often draw from folklore and Buddhist lore, emphasizing their sacredness and auspicious power. Here are a few representative examples:

- **The Legend of the Indian Woman's Farewell**: According to an ancient Indian legend, before Buddhism, women used to tear a piece of cloth from their saris and hang it on their doorsteps or trees when their husbands left for war, praying for their safe return. This custom symbolized love and protection. After the rise of Buddhism, this custom was integrated into religious doctrines, and the pieces of cloth evolved into banners printed with scriptures. These banners were hung in temples or outdoors, and their movement in the wind was seen as a symbol of the spread of the Dharma and blessing all beings. This story illustrates the process by which the banner evolved from a secular sentiment into a religious symbol.

**The Story of the Integration of Bon Religion and Buddhism**: According to Tibetan legend, prayer flags originated from the Bon religion's worship of colorful flags. Bon believers used flags to pray to mountain gods. In the 8th century, Guru Padmasambhava introduced Buddhism to Tibet. To overcome resistance from Bon, he replaced the flags with prayer flags emblazoned with Buddhist mantras. One story depicts Guru Padmasambhava hanging prayer flags on a snowy mountain. The wind blew away the mantras, subduing evil spirits and bringing blessings to the people of Tibet. Since then, prayer flags have become a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism, signifying harmony and victory.

**The Story of Shakyamuni Buddha**: Buddhist texts record that when the Buddha first preached the Dharma in Deer Park, his disciples hung flags to celebrate the spread of the Dharma. This symbolized the Buddha's victory over inner demons, and the flags became a symbol of victory. Another story, found in the Jataka Tales, describes how in a previous life, the Buddha offered a cloth curtain to bodhisattvas, accumulating merit and ultimately achieving enlightenment, emphasizing the causal significance of the flag.

These stories not only enrich the cultural connotations of the hanging cloth but also lend it greater emotional resonance within Buddhist rituals, reminding believers to accumulate good karma and pray for blessings through the simple act of hanging it.

In short, the hanging cloth in a Buddhist temple is more than just a decoration; it is a core vehicle for Buddhist spirituality, embodying Buddhist wisdom and compassion through its roles, origins, and stories.