In this age where Buddhism and Taoism are favored, funeral rituals are a common custom among the people.
The openness and tolerance of the Tang Dynasty allowed many foreign cultures and religions to flourish in this land.
Nestorianism was one of the earliest Christian sects introduced into China. When the missionary envoys came to Chang'an, Emperor Taizong ordered Prime Minister Fang Xuanling to personally welcome them outside the city and allowed them to preach in the Tang Dynasty. The imperial court also funded the construction of a church in Chang'an City.
This church was built in the 13th year of Zhenguan. It is located in Yiningfang, Chang'an. It is called "Persian Temple" and is the earliest known Christian church in China.
To this day, the Forest of Steles Park in Xi'an still preserves the inscriptions on the introduction of Nestorian Christianity into China. The original Chinese characters are engraved on them, and they are all ancient scripts. If you don't have any culture at all, you can't read Chinese compositions written by foreigners.
Of course, tolerance does not mean that everything is included. In China, religion and imperial power can never be separated. It always serves the imperial power.
The architectural style of the Persian Temple is not a Western spire or Gothic style, but an authentic Chinese style. What is enshrined inside is not Christ Jesus or the Virgin Mary, but the emperors of the Tang Dynasty.
When any religion comes to China, you have to coil up if it is a dragon, or lie down if it is a tiger. It does not conform to Chinese tastes. If you cannot follow the local customs, you will definitely not be able to live long.
It’s not just about religion. Thousands of years later, when KFC and McDonald’s came to China, didn’t they also start selling soy milk, fried dough sticks and rice bowls? You can get a salted duck egg for free by becoming a member and paying attention...
The same goes for Buddhism.
The religion that was extremely sacred to Asan immediately became more down-to-earth after coming to China. In order to compete with the local Taoism, and for the few believers and incense money, Buddhism had to expand its business.
Not only are there various red and white ceremonies for weddings and funerals, but new members of the church may actually receive a salted duck egg.
The monk who walked into Ganjingzhuang today probably came from a nearby temple after receiving religious duties.
Ordinary people usually have to invite monks and Taoists to attend most of their weddings and funerals. Especially for funerals, it is even more important to have a grand ceremony. Wealthier families will invite a group of monks to do it for seven days, and poorer families will have to invite at least one monk.
The monk came over and recited a sutra for salvation in the afterlife in the mourning hall.
When the old soldier died in Zhuangzi, his descendants invited monks from nearby temples.
Since there were many funerals sent to the Li Family Courtyard, the descendants of the veterans also generously invited a group of monks.
The monks walked in from the entrance of the village. They looked solemn, lowered their eyelids and recited scriptures in a low voice. They walked until they walked into the mourning hall where the coffin was placed, and then each found a futon to sit down. For a while, the voices of chanting scriptures became louder and louder.
Looking at this group of strange monks, Li Qinzai's eyes flashed and a smile appeared on his lips.
However, Liu Asi and Bu Qu became nervous and unconsciously put their hands on the handle of the knife at their waists.
"Relax, there is a funeral, who can you show to me that you are preparing to kill someone?" Li Qinzai said calmly.
Liu Asi said nervously: "Fifth Young Master, all villagers in Zhuangzi are natives, but these monks are from outside. If there are assassins among them..."
Li Qinzai still smiled and said: "It is not unreasonable to worry, but there is no need to be so nervous. You are all good fighters. You must have a master's style like Yuan Ting Yue Zhi. The result is not important. Your posture must be handsome."
Liu Asi smiled bitterly and said: "Fifth Young Master, at such a time, you are still so out of shape..."
Li Qinzai smiled and looked at the monks not far away who were bowing their heads and chanting sutras, and couldn't help but feel a little strange in his heart.
If the assassin chose to sneak into this group of monks and look for opportunities to assassinate him, it would be too... bloody, right?
It's better to just go into the village with gongs and drums, and tell the troops and the imperial army in a swaggering manner, "I'm going to assassinate the Fifth Young Master. You just lie down and call me daddy."
But Li Qinzai really couldn't think of any other way for the assassin to sneak into the monks. The only outsiders who entered the village were this group of monks. The entire village was guarded as airtight as iron barrels by the tribes and the imperial army, and this group of monks,
is the only flaw.
However, the flaws were so obvious that Li Qinzai felt a little uneasy.
You can't be so stupid, right? You don't really intend to assassinate him in this way, right? Were ancient people also poisoned by movies and TV shows?
Liu Asi whispered: "Fifth Young Master, it is not suitable to stay here for a long time. You have already visited the mourning hall. Please go back to the other courtyard."
Li Qinzai shook his head: "Escape is not an option. If the assassins are really among them, it is better to deal with them once and for all. Just protect me."
Liu Asi hesitated for a moment and said: "Young man, please call me more, otherwise I won't be able to be at ease."
…………
Inside the Li family courtyard.
A member of the tribe rushed into the courtyard, shouting loudly, and then the tribe members who stayed in other courtyards quickly gathered in the yard. Dozens of people lined up in armor and quickly went out and rushed towards the mourning hall.
Kono Sanliang was squatting by the well in the backyard, washing clothes for Li Qinzai and Qiao Erxian, which was his duty as a maid.
Hearing the commotion coming from the front yard, Sanliang Kono walked to the front yard curiously and saw dozens of tribesmen coming out in armor. Sanliang Kono hurriedly asked about it.
Hearing that a group of monks coming in from outside Zhuangzi was suspicious, leader Liu Asi ordered reinforcements to be deployed. Kono Sanliang couldn't help being startled, and the face of the salesman in the forest yesterday flashed in his mind.
Konono Zanliang bit his lower lip and thought for a long time, then he ran towards the mourning hall arranged in the village.
My thoughts are very confused, and my love and hate are very vague.
All she knew was that nothing could happen to Li Qinzai.
Even for the sake of his father and people in the Japanese country, and for the livelihood of thousands of Japanese people, nothing could happen to Li Qinzai.
If Li Qinzai had three good points and two shortcomings, the price the Japanese country would have to pay would be unbearable by his father and subjects.
They will face the monstrous wrath of the Emperor of Tang Dynasty, the thunder and lightning.
Koye Zanliang's thoughts were confused and his steps became more and more hurried.
Running to the outside of the mourning hall, I found Li Qinzai standing calmly in the crowd. Around him, members of the Li family had surrounded him, forming a guard against him. He looked very safe.
Kono Sanliang breathed a sigh of relief and raised his sleeves to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
Li Qinzai saw her and waved to her: "What are you doing here?"
Kouno Zanliang calmed down and walked over, lowered his head and said: "This slave is a little curious about the funeral rituals of the Tang Dynasty, so..."
Li Qinzai said with a smile: "You just came to watch the excitement? Needless to say, the deceased was a person of joy and mourning, so there are not so many taboos."
Kono Zanliang lowered his head and said, "Yes."
Raising his eyes and casually glancing into the mourning hall, Kouno Sanliang's mind that had just relaxed suddenly suddenly became anxious, and a flash of panic quickly flashed across his expression.
Among the group of monks chanting sutras in the mourning hall, there was a familiar face. It was the salesman who met her in the forest yesterday. He was the envoy sent by the Japanese country to the Tang Dynasty and the retainer of the central minister Kazuzu.
Today, he is wearing an old monk's robe, with his head shaved, sitting in a group of monks, with his eyelids lowered and chanting scriptures mindfully.
The horrified expression of Tono Sanliang only lasted for a moment, but it was perfectly captured by Li Qinzai.
His eyes were a bit solemn, but the smile on Li Qinzai's face did not diminish and he said: "It seems that there are some acquaintances of yours among those monks?"
Kono Sanliang shook his head subconsciously: "No, no."
Li Qinzai's tone became colder: "To be honest, you and your tribe won't pay a heavy price. You have to think clearly."