Jieyin Daoren (), also known as Taoist Jieyin, is a character in the Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi). He is the leader of the Western Sect (西方教, Xifang Jiao), with his junior fellow disciple Zhunti Daoren. In the novel, he resides in the Western Paradise and takes part in the conflict between the Chan and Jie sects. He has been identified by scholars with Amitabha Buddha.
In the novel
Jieyin Daoren resides in the Western Paradise. He is described as six zhang tall and as having attained śarīra (舍利子). Jieyin enters the conflict between the Chan and Jie sects when Zhunti Daoren returns to the West and asks him to help break the Zhuxian Array (诛仙阵), which has been established by Tongtian Jiaozhu. Jieyin initially says that he has never left the Western Pure Land and is unfamiliar with affairs in the mortal world, but agrees to accompany Zhunti to the east.
Jieyin and Zhunti join Yuanshi Tianzun and Laozi in attacking the Zhuxian Array. Jieyin enters the Lixian Gate (戮仙门), one of the four gates of the formation. When Tongtian Jiaozhu activates the Lixian Sword (戮仙剑), three śarīra appear above Jieyin's head and block its attack. The four figures then attack the four gates of the formation, and the Zhuxian Array is broken.
Jieyin later takes part in the battle against the Ten Thousand Immortals Array (万仙阵), which Tongtian Jiaozhu establishes after the defeat of the Zhuxian Array. He joins Yuanshi Tianzun, Laozi, and Zhunti Daoren in the battle. During the fighting, Jieyin uses the Qiankun Bag (乾坤袋) to capture Jie sect immortals, who are taken to the West. Jieyin also possesses the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus of Merit (十二品功德金莲). The Mosquito Daoist (蚊道人) later consumes three of its petals, leaving it with nine. The incident occurs after Jieyin captures Our Lady of Turtle Spirit (龟灵圣母).
After Hongjun Laozu intervenes in the conflict and takes Tongtian Jiaozhu away, Jieyin Daoren takes his leave and returns to the West.
Scholarly analysis
Jieyin Daoren has been identified with Amitabha Buddha. Yamashita Kazuo's study of the Western Sect in Investiture of the Gods examines the relationship between Jieyin and Buddhist traditions and identifies Jieyin with Amitabha. The name Jieyin (接引) is associated with the Buddhist idea of guiding beings to the Western Pure Land. In the novel, Jieyin is presented as the leader of the Western Sect and is referred to as a daoren (道人).
The novel presents Jieyin and Zhunti Daoren as leaders of the Western Sect (西方教, Xifang Jiao). Lei argues that the Western Sect in the novel has a strong association with Buddhism, particularly Pure Land Buddhism, and that the pairing of Jieyin and Zhunti reflects the interaction between the Zhunti cult and Pure Land belief in late imperial China.
In the novel, Jieyin is designated as a daoren (道人), a term that can refer to a Daoist practitioner. However, Lei notes that the term was not historically exclusive to Daoism, so the title alone does not establish Jieyin as a purely Daoist figure. A later religious text, Lidai shenxian tongjian (歷代神仙通鑑), mentions Jieyin and Zhunti together and identifies Jieyin with Amitabha Buddha. Tianyu Lei notes that the text refers to him as "Master Jieyin Amitabha Buddha" (接引大师阿弥陀佛) and describes him as having a golden body and the forty-eight vows.
Wei Juxian proposed that Zhunti Daoren represents the Panchen Lama, while Jieyin Daoren may represent the Dalai Lama. Later scholars have questioned the proposal, noting the lack of clear Tibetan Buddhist elements in the two characters and the chronological problems involved in relating the novel to the Qing-era Dalai Lama.
A comparison of the religious ideas of Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West notes the respectful treatment of the Western Sect alongside the novel's Daoist figures. In Chapter 84, Hongjun Laozu praises the Western Paradise and addresses Jieyin Daoren and Zhunti Daoren as "fellow Daoists" (道友), presenting them on an equal footing in his exchange with the three Daoist disciples.
See also
Investiture of the Gods Zhunti Daoren Amitabha
References