Chinese myths also contain many Buddhist ones. Chinese Buddhism is also a combination of many other religious teachings and guides, whose goal is the direction of a better life and the path of enlightenment, bliss and the discovery of the nature of the world.

These teachers are recorded in legends and myths, both everywhere and in Chinese mythology. Characters from other faiths or those who have nothing to do with Buddhism meet a Buddha who shows them valuable life lessons.

It is not uncommon for a mythical story to include Taoist and Buddhist heroes, as well as figures of the rank of traditional Chinese gods and goddesses. Like the vast land of the Chinese themselves, their myths bear traces of foreign influences from near and far, and in one of the longest and most widespread legends, the history of the Monkey, the various elements are present simultaneously.

In this case, Amito Fu has several names: Amitabha (meaning “infinite light”), Dharmakara, Amida or Amitayus.

Western Heaven

Amito Fu, also known as the Compassionate Buddha and the Enlightened One, was the most powerful of all Buddhas. Offering eternal life to all who believed in him. He was born in ancient India under the name of Dharmakara as an ordinary mortal. As a child, he was inspired to attain the enlightenment of the Buddha by giving up the riches and conveniences of the material world in order to find a higher degree of bliss.

Dharmakara decided to become a Buddhist monk. He meditated for many years under the guidance of a teacher, getting closer to enlightenment. However, he realized that he wanted a different enlightenment and bliss than that of other seekers – he wanted to save all living beings, to protect them, to help them find enlightenment. He vowed not to become a Buddha until he saved everyone.

Because of this, he really attained enlightenment and became a Buddha. In India he was already known as Amitabha, and in China as Amito Fu.

He lived in the divine kingdom to the west known as the Western Paradise or the Pure Land. It was from one of the four Buddhist kingdoms in the four main directions. Western paradise was an ideal country where everything was beautiful. There was no violence, no darkness, no fires, no suffering. Everything was beautiful, made for enjoyment and pleasure, peace of the inhabitants and their peace.