@article{von eschenbach2019managing author = {Silvia Freiin Ebner von Eschenbach}, title = {Managing Floods and Droughts by Invocating the Water Spirits: Analyzing Prayers for Rain (daoyu 禱雨) and Prayers for a Clear Sky (qiqing 祈晴). With Some Examples from Local Source Material of the Song 宋 Dynasty (960–1279)}, journal = {Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft}, volume = {169}, number = {1}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The praying for rain or the stoppage of rain as part of the Song administrative procedure may be understood as a reaction to climatic variations. The Song dynasty was a period during which, due to volcanic and solar activity, heavy rains and severe droughts occurred. This also becomes evident from local source material in Hangzhou (capital city since 1127, renamed Lin'an). With the spread of Buddhism, Buddha and bodhisattvas had taken over the command of the dragon deities who were considered responsible for rainfall. They were invoked for rain, as shown in the analysis of prayers written by the prefect of Hangzhou, Su Shi. Among the dragon temples and monasteries that were honored by the government for their responsiveness to rain prayers, the Upper India Monastery of bodhisattva Guanyin became most prominent and was frequented even by the emperors.}, url = {https://doi.org/10.13173/zeitdeutmorggese.169.1.0205} doi = {10.13173/zeitdeutmorggese.169.1.0205} }