As the abbot of a monastery, Master Dingzhen received all the traditional funerary rites due a monk, but his funeral also had a grandeur rarely accorded to ordinary members of the clergy.
Though this was certainly not what the old abbot would have wanted, he had left no final instructions.
Dragon Painting Temple had yet to be fully repaired, but once news of Master Dingzhen's passing spread through the Great Qiu Capital, commoners came in an endless stream to pay their respects.
Many of the capital's dignitaries naturally came as well. Though the emperor did not attend in person, he sent a prince as his envoy to offer condolences.
Officials were even stationed at Dragon Painting Temple specifically to help its monks preside over the Buddhist funeral.
After all, Dragon Painting Temple was effectively a royal monastery now, and Master Dingzhen had been an eminent, enlightened monk. He deserved respect and the honors befitting him.
Between Dragon Painting Temple's own rules and the court's involvement, the funeral rites were elaborate, from placing his body in its shrine to enshrining his remains in a pagoda. More than ten Buddhist services alone were expected.
It was the third day after Master Dingzhen's passing, and the nobles of Eternal Capital and many of its commoners had already visited.
The chanting of monks in nearby meditation chambers could be heard throughout Dragon Painting Temple. Some commoners and nobles still remained, generally the more devout among the regular visitors. Next came the cremation.
Some court runners were also helping outside the temple gates.
An official from the Ministry of Rites' Sacrificial Bureau walked through the temple's front courtyard with the Temple Supervisor, continuing all the way to the mountain gate.
Looking down the steps, they could see that quite a few people were still climbing