現代香港佛教的奠基者－香港佛教居士群像

The Founders of Modern Hong Kong Buddhism: The Householders of Hong Kong Buddhism

鄧家宙(Tang ,Ka-jau Billy)

《玄奘佛學研究》 32期 (2019/09) Pp. 67-96

摘要

香港佛教歷史可追溯至魏晉時期，然千百年來，境內居民雖知有佛菩薩，然而佛法之信行並未普及。即便到香港開埠受英國殖民統治，本地佛教情勢並未有顯著改變。惟是進入二十世紀後，於短短百年之間，卻起了翻天覆地的變化，不特成為本地主要宗教，在國際佛教亦佔重要地位，這固然得力於佛教仝寅艱辛開拓，努力苦幹，其實亦與當時中國社會動盪以及港英政府治下的社會情態有密切關係。過去，本地佛教有幾位重要的居士，他們致力推動弘法及社會福利，更於艱難時期衛護僧侶，保存道場，可說是現代香港佛教的重要奠基者及推動者。長久以來，或基於僧寶形象的主觀影響，於佛教發展紀錄常有「法師領導大眾」興辦弘法利生的事業，部份更被過度神化吹捧，於是在家居士的角色與貢獻就直接被降於次要的輔助位置，這種情況在香港佛教尤為普遍。其實居士的在俗身份及政經人脈正代表著某種的社會關聯與力量，他們的背景和所能運用之影響力正是推動佛教在世俗社會前進的重要動力。筆者認為該種以宗教情懷出發的論述，經常忽略現實社會情勢及居士弘法的主動性和領導力，這將無助了解佛教與社會互動之實況。因此，本文將以會社組織、文化事業及密宗傳播為題，舉引七位居士之事業，了解他們對二十世紀殖民地政府治下香港佛教發展之貢獻。

關鍵字

香港佛教 ； 都市佛教 ； 居士 ； 東蓮覺苑

並列摘要

So far the history of Hong Kong Buddhism can be traced back to Wei-Jin Dynasties. Yet in these thousands of years, people only know the religion of Buddha, not the doctrines of Buddhism. In early colonial period of Hong Kong, local Buddhism had no significant development. Until 20th century, in the special historical backdrop of Hong Kong, Buddhism started improving its religious status vigorously in a century. Not only becoming a crucial local religion, it even earned international prestige. This greatly relied on the endeavour of the Buddhists. Also, the social instability of China and Hong Kong's colonial environment are not to be omitted. In the past, there were some householders in Hong Kong devoted themselves in promoting Buddhism and charity. They even spent time and money to protect monks and monasteries during hard times. These people are recognised as the ＂founders＂ and ＂promoters＂ of Hong Kong Modern Buddhism. However, under the belief of ＂Monks as leaders＂ and the venerable imaging, mainly monks were greatly emphasised when talking about Buddhism. Thus the status of householders were treated in a lower level. This was very common in Hong Kong Buddhism. In fact, householders are free from the religious commandments that their social identities and networks are substantial dynamics. Such energy plays an important role in developing Buddhism in the secular society. In this paper, the author points out some statements that are derived from religious sentiments. These statements sometimes omitted the social environment and the contribution of householders. This does not reflect the real picture of the interaction between Buddhism and the society. So the theme of this paper is to introduce seven remarkable householders. In terms of organisations establishment, cultural and Tantra promotion, these people have been contributing significantly to the development of Hong Kong Buddhism under the governance of the colonial government.

並列關鍵字

Hong Kong Buddhism ； City Buddhism ； Householders ； Tung Lin Kok Yuen

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