Translated by: Tony Qin
The Peacock Dharma is said to have flourished in India since ancient times. Elder Venerable Jianru discussed its rich history in A Guide to the Buddha Mother Great Peacock King Sutra:
“Volume Three of The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions states: ‘On the northern stone cliffs of the Śāṇīrāja River, there is a stūpa. Many who come here seeking healing find their ailments cured. In a past life, the Buddha was the King of Peacocks. He and his flock arrived at this place, parched and desperate for water. Finding none, the Peacock King pecked at the cliff with his beak, causing a spring to gush forth. This spring became a pool, and those who drink or bathe in it recover from illness. The peacock’s footprints remain visible on the rocks to this day.’”
Furthermore, according to the Anthology of World Buddhist Classics, when Master Xuanzang traveled to India in the 7th century, the Great Peacock Sutra was widely recited. Before King Harsha ascended the throne, he learned of his father’s passing and hurried back to the palace, where religious practitioners were performing rituals. Chants from The Great Peacock Sutra featured prominently among those recited, indicating the text’s popularity at the time. However, the precise dating of its composition remains undetermined.
When, then, did the Peacock Dharma enter China, and when was it translated? According to the Chronology of Buddhist History and the Anthology of World Buddhist Classics, a prince from the Western Region, Po Srimitra, renounced his position and became a monk. During the Yongjia period of the Eastern Jin dynasty (around 307 CE), he traveled to China and settled in Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing) at Jianchu Monastery. In the first year of Yongchang (317 CE), he translated the Peacock King Mantra Sutra, completing three versions between 317 and 322 CE. These translations can still be found in the Shizang Tripitaka, the Koryo Tripitaka, the Yuan Tripitaka, and the Ming Tripitaka.
By 516 CE, the Tripitaka Master Sanghapala from Funan (modern-day Cambodia) arrived in China and translated The Buddha’s Instructions on the Peacock King Mantra Sutra. However, his translation was poorly executed, with occasional errors. In 705 CE, Master Yijing produced a new translation titled The Buddha’s Instructions on the Great Peacock King Mantra Sutra. Although Yijing claimed his version to be a complete rendering, it inevitably included omissions and paraphrases. Later, the Tripitaka Master Amoghavajra created a new version titled The Buddha Mother Great Peacock Wisdom King Sutra. While Amoghavajra’s version was described as a translation of the original text, it was, in fact, a revision of Yijing’s work. This version has since become widely adopted and remains in extensive use today.
As noted in The Recitation and Meaning of the Peacock Sutra [1]:
“During the sixth year of the Dali era (771 CE), the Tripitaka Master Amoghavajra of the Great Tang Dynasty, residing at Daxingshan Monastery, translated this text at the imperial request of Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong. This is considered the definitive translation.”
In the fifth year of the Tianbao era (746), Master Amoghavajra resided at Jingying Temple during a severe drought. The emperor issued a decree for the recitation of the Peacock Dharma at the inner temple, praying for rain. After three days, the rain came as hoped. In gratitude, the emperor bestowed upon Master Amoghavajra the honorary title of Zhizang and presented him with a purple robe, among other gifts. At that time, this sutra was immensely popular, and the Tang imperial family gave it great importance, promoting the ritual extensively while ensuring its preservation within official circles.
Due to the suppression of Buddhism by Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, the practice of the Peacock Dharma eventually arrived in Japan. In 1686, the Japanese monk Reigen compared the versions of the sutra translated by Amoghavajra and Yijing, and wrote The Differences Between the Great Peacock King Sutra Versions, which was later included in the Japanese Shizang collection.
In Japanese Buddhism, the Peacock Dharma is regarded as one of the key practices for safeguarding the nation. This tradition was established early on in Japan. In the 9th century, the founder of the Shugendo tradition, En no Gyōja, practiced the Peacock Mantra and achieved remarkable results. During the Heian period, the monk Kōbō Daishi emphasized the protective power of the Peacock King Sutra, and it became a central esoteric text of the Shingon school. Historical records from Japan note that between 908 and 960, numerous Japanese monks achieved miraculous effects from practicing the Peacock Dharma. By the 11th century, the practice had become increasingly popular, expanding to offer tangible worldly benefits, such as blessings, the alleviation of natural disasters, and the preservation of health.
The revival of this practice in Taiwan began with Venerable Xiandun. A nun named Hui Kuan from Ciguang Temple in Miaoli was suffering from a serious illness and was on the brink of death. By chance, she encountered the Peacock King Dharma of the Buddha Mother. After repeatedly reciting the mantra, she was miraculously healed. Upon hearing of this, Venerable Jianru sought teachings from Venerable Xiantun and began practicing the Dharma himself. He too was cured of a long-standing stomach ailment, and with deep faith, he resolved to spread this practice, aiming to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings.
In 1984, during a prolonged drought in northern Taiwan, Venerable Jianru dedicated himself to practicing the Peacock Dharma for forty-nine days, praying for rain. Within six days, the drought ended. Following this experience, he repeatedly practiced the Dharma, deeply sensing its powerful and miraculous effects. Filled with a sincere vow, he committed to spreading the practice to benefit more suffering beings in the world. Starting in 2002, he began to promote the Peacock Dharma internationally, visiting China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and other regions.
Venerable Jianru dedicated his life to spreading the Peacock Dharma, enduring many hardships and challenges. He successfully revived this ancient secret practice that had been lost for over a thousand years, and to this day, he has established the international recognition of the Peacock Dharma.
[1] The Recitation and Meaning of the Peacock Sutra (孔雀經音義) is a three-volume work written by the Japanese monk Kanjō. It is a commentary and translation of The Great Peacock King Sutra by Amoghavajra.
