On the morning of September 22, 2023, Syrian President Assad, invited to the Asian Games opening ceremony in Hangzhou, toured the famous Buddhist Lingyin Temple with his wife and children. The temple unusually rolled out the red carpet and opened its main doors, sparking public discussion. Later that afternoon, Xi Jinping met with Assad at the West Lake State Guesthouse in Hangzhou, located six kilometers from Lingyin Temple. The intriguing question is why he arranged for Assad’s visit to the temple and what lay behind this decision.
Exploring the ancient Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple, also known as Yunlin Zen Temple, located northwest of West Lake in Hangzhou, is one of China’s earliest Buddhist temples and one of the top 10 ancient temples. Founded in A.D. 326, the temple has a history of over 1,670 years. The temple’s name “Hidden by the Spirits” was chosen due to its serene and unique landscape.
Xi Jinping’s beliefs: A complex blend
Xi Jinping, despite being the leader of the atheistic Chinese Communist Party, has a complex belief system that is not simply black and white. His choices may be connected to his faith. So what does he believe in?
Belief in Buddhism?
Xi Jinping’s father, Xi Zhongxun, was one of the elders of the Chinese Communist Party. He had a strong belief in Buddhism and supported Qigong. Influenced by his father, Xi Jinping might have sincerely believed in Buddhism.
Belief in destiny?
According to Guo Jun, the editor-in-chief of the Epoch Times, Xi Jinping was foretold by a wise man during his tenure in Fujian that he would ascend to the highest leadership position in the Chinese Communist Party. From then on, Xi Jinping maintained a low profile, cautious not to make any mistakes that could jeopardize his future.
Belief in dragon vein?
Since ancient times, Chinese emperors have attached great importance to protecting the dragon vein, believing it to be linked to their fate and the nation’s fortune. After taking office, Xi Jinping ordered the demolition of illegal villas built on Qinling, considered the dragon vein, to protect the ecological environment.
Belief in prophecy?
In March 2023, rumors spread that Xi Jinping had purged top officials of the Rocket Army under the guise of anti-corruption. This sudden misfortune for the Rocket Army officials is related to Xi Jinping’s belief in prophecy.
Belief in Marxism-Leninism?
However, as the party’s leader, Xi Jinping is also influenced by the guiding ideology of Marxism-Leninism. Wang Huning, the chief ideologue appointed by him, has been constantly feeding him Marxist-Leninist ideas.
Finally
Xi Jinping’s belief system is a complex mixture of traditional Chinese beliefs and foreign ideologies. He believes in Buddhism, destiny, dragon veins, and prophecies rooted in traditional Chinese culture. On the other hand, he also adheres to Marxism-Leninism, a foreign ideology that opposes traditional values. This contradictory belief system may be a significant reason his path is becoming increasingly narrow, and he finds himself in a precarious situation.
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