The Maitreya Worship was an important cultural aspect of Buddhism that was introduced to China from India, possibly influenced by Persian culture, and transmitted through the Silk Road. In China, the Maitreya belief can be divided into two stages. The first stage was before the Song Dynasty, where Maitreya was worshipped as the Heavenly Official Maitreya by the Chinese Buddhist community. In the second stage, which began after the Southern Song Dynasty, Maitreya was worshipped in the form of the big-belly Maitreya and became a popular welcoming Buddha statue in temples. Maitreya was also highly valued as an artistic image in China and had a significant impact on both the imperial court and the general public. For many people, Maitreya provided a redemptive object of worship. Maitreya's influence also extended beyond the Han Chinese to other ethnic groups such as the Hui. This paper explores the impact of Maitreya belief in the Upper Yangtze River region, specifically in relation to Buddhism in Sichuan Province and Chongqing City.
