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View Full Version : A non-Buddist paying respect to Guan Gong



Jericho Desu
May 10, 2009, 07:52
Essentially the title says it all, I'm not a Buddist however I would like to pay my respects to Guan Gong known as the God of Warriors (although that's abit inaccurate) in the room I practice my Gung Fu. It's not used for anything else, so I wanted to put up some posters including one of Guan Gong (facing the door I believe or does that only go for shrines?).

Would this somehow be offensive?

Thanks.

Edit: I think I made a mistake, it should have been Taoism I believe, but the question remains the same for either.

Mike Cash
May 10, 2009, 14:28
How would it be offensive?

Google and Wikipedia are your friends (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guan_Gong#Worship_of_Guan_Yu), by the way.

Since it is generally held that all sentient beings possess Buddha nature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_nature) I don't think it matters if you're Buddhist or not.

Jericho Desu
May 10, 2009, 19:14
I did check out google/wikipedia but as it is written he is worshipped by 3 different religions none of which I'm apart of therefore I wasn't very sure, so I thought I'd ask more specifically.

Thanks for the reply.

Mike Cash
May 10, 2009, 20:05
I think a more proper question would be whether this collides with any religion you are a part of.

I think from a Buddhist perspective it may be more correct to say he is "revered" rather than "worshipped". I haven't looked it up, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he is unknown in the Japanese strains of Buddhism.

Jericho Desu
May 10, 2009, 20:19
I'm a weak agnostic therefore I'm not apart of any major religion.

I see. Yes I've never actually heard of him mentioned in any Japanese context.