Bodhisattva Lingji(灵吉菩萨):

In Chinese, it is pronounced as: líng jí pú sà，Written as:

Bodhisattva Lingji is one of the eight Bodhisattvas in the novel “Journey to the West.” Residing on Mount Xumi, Bodhisattva Lingji possesses vast magical powers and wields the Flying Dragon Staff. Endowed with treasures such as the Wind-Arresting Pearl given by Tathagata Buddha, he has helped Tang Seng and his disciples subdue the Yellow Wind Sage during their pilgrimage.

In actual Buddhism, Bodhisattva Lingji is not commonly recognized as one of the major Bodhisattvas; his status is more a literary creation found in works like “Journey to the West.” His image and stature are largely formed through literary and folkloric elaborations.

In “Journey to the West,” Bodhisattva Lingji repeatedly demonstrates his formidable magical powers, assisting Tang Seng and his disciples through numerous challenges. For instance, he possesses magical implements such as the Wind-Arresting Pearl bestowed by Tathagata Buddha. He once used the Flying Dragon Staff to tame the Yellow Wind Guai and lent the Wind-Arresting Pearl to Sun Wukong to counteract Princess Iron Fan’s banana fan. His actions highlight a spirit of compassion and a dedication to relieving suffering and vanquishing demons.

So, how did the name Lingji come about? Since there is no Bodhisattva Lingji in actual Buddhism, one must explore other origins for this name. In “Journey to the West,” Bodhisattva Lingji’s appearances often relate to “wind,” such as subduing the Yellow Wind Guai and giving the Wind-Arresting Pearl, suggesting his mastery over “wind.” This leads to speculation that “Lingji” might be a creative adaptation of the name “Lian Ji,” inspired by the Chinese mythological Wind God.