Cave of Initiatory Rebirth

The location formally recognized as the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas (Ch'ien-fo Tung) but also more generally recognized as the Cave of the Mother of Buddhas (Fo-mu Tung) has the following legend associated with it. In the mid-sixteenth century late one night a priest noticed the activity of “spirit lights”around the entrance of a hitherto undiscovered lofty cave located on a towering cliff on the Southern Terrace’s northeast side. He accompanied them inside the cave and was astonished to behold row after row of jade Buddha effigies arranged like petals ringing the center of the alcove. While deeply exploring the cave, his presence triggered repeated undulations of overwhelming sound. He became terror-stricken and disoriented in the dark and, unnerved, began intoning the name of Kwan-yin, and promising to create a holy icon (sheng-hsiang). Without warning, a solitary lamp appeared in front of him. He succeeded in discovering the way out by following this beacon, and subsequently in honor of his vow made an idol at the cave.
In terms of its ceremonial use, this particular “womb cave” is unique in China but nevertheless relates to a noteworthy archetype pertaining to all Asian people. In the process of entering and exiting such caves through a passage, one experiences regeneration and a purgation of imperfections in addition to a perception of metamorphosis and revivification. This pattern is found in a broad swath of Asian societies such as Japan, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Tibet and India.