Reflections on the Buddhist Mummification in China

論中國佛教中「肉身不壞」的現象

沈海燕(Hai-Yan Shen)

《哲學與文化》 43卷7期 (2016/07) Pp. 155-176

摘要

佛教中舍利子的現象，在宗教修行上究竟具有什麼意義？本文著重探討的是全身舍利之何以可能的因由及其形成和演變的過程，揭示其形成的教理依據，本土固有文化和道教思想的影響等等，以期反映中國佛教一個方面的特色。

關鍵字

肉身不壞 ； 神往形留肉身菩薩 ； 靈魂不滅 ； 長生久視 ； 舍利

並列摘要

The corporeal bodhisattva in Chinese Buddhism is a peculiar phenomenon. What is its significance? What ideas does it convey, and what kind of discourse does it form? This paper explores this issue from eight angles in order to reveal characteristics of the indigenous culture it embodies. The first angle gives rise to a speculation about the occurrence of the corporeal bodhisattva from an historical background including the traditional ethical view of life and immortality, and the Taoist corporeal immortality. The second and third angles reveal that this phenomenon is closely related to the prevalence of The Lotus Sūtra with its idea of the incorruption of the tongue and the term ＂whole-body relic＂. The fourth angle investigates several accounts of non-decaying flesh-bodies. The fifth angle explores the doctrinal foundation for the legitimacy of, and reasons for, the non-decaying body of flesh. The six and seventh angles discuss the many causes for the emergence and fabrication of the corporeal bodhisattva.

並列關鍵字

Mummification ； Corporeal Bodhisattva ； Longevity ； Immortality ； Relics

參考文獻

Biographies of Eminent Monks 高僧傳(Gaoseng zhuan), T.50.322c-423a.

Biography of Sui Tiantai Master Zhizhe 隋天台智者大師別傳, T.50.191a-197c.

Changdao zhenyan 唱道真言, bequeathed by elderly Qinghua 青華老人傳, Qing Hequzi ed. 清鶴臞子輯, Zangwai daoshu 藏外道書, vol.10.

Fayuan zhulin 法苑珠林, T.53.668a-881c.

Fozu tongji 佛祖統紀, T.49.129a-475c.