南北朝佛教的神異文化與社會傳播

佛教在南北朝時期逐漸深入中國社會，不僅帶來新的宗教典籍與思想，也傳入了相當豐富的神異文化。本文想要研究的，就是此時期佛教帶來了那些神異文化的內涵，並且對於佛教在中國社會的發展產生什麼影響。本文認為佛教神異文化最重要的特點，在於他是透過外來的、制度性宗教所引入的文化，並且藉由兩個面向，亦即僧侶的異能，以及參與宗教實踐與儀式的「奇蹟」所展現。而神異文化在南北朝時期對於佛教發展的重要貢獻，在於他促成佛教信仰於中國社會的傳播。透過分析僧傳與志怪作品等史料，本文指出僧侶展現出的異能，主要分為兩個部分，第一，是佛教神通的傳統，第二，則是隨著佛教信仰一同傳入的專業知識與技術，包含咒語的知識，以及佛教醫學等等。這兩者共同組成南北朝僧侶異能的重要成分。除了僧人自主施展的異能之外，佛教神異文化的另一個面向，就是宗教實踐與儀式中所引起的「奇蹟」，中古佛教徒多稱之為「感通」。佛教不只帶來新的宗教實踐與儀式，對於投身宗教實踐引發的感通現象，佛教也賦予其信仰意義，也就是「與神聖的相遇」。對於僧侶而言，在實踐中獲得感通，是對於自身修行成果的認可；對於居士而言，則證實了信仰的虔誠。如果將神異文化放在佛教初傳中國的脈絡中，更能凸顯他促成佛教社會傳播的意涵。可以看到，在五胡十六國時期，神異僧以自身的神通異能獲得胡族統治者的信任，取得政治上的庇護與支持，讓佛教得以順利地在北方傳播。在東晉南朝，僧人引起的感通事蹟不只加強了他們身為玄學名士的風範，同時也凸顯自身卓越的修行成果，這兩個元素的結合，使得他們更容易獲得南朝士族的禮敬與供養。在基層社會中，我們看到僧人具備的異能，諸如咒語與醫療等技術，成功協助他們承擔起社會救濟的角色，同時他們作為齋會的指導者，也協助信徒藉由參與儀式，產生與神聖相遇的宗教經驗。這些神異文化的元素，讓佛教信仰能夠接觸到更廣泛的人群，最終促成佛教在南北朝時期深入中國的社會之中。

關鍵字

神異；感通；佛教文化；社會傳播

並列摘要

Buddhism spread through China during the Northern and Southern dynasties, bringing not only new religious texts and ideology, but also an abundant culture of Shenyi神異 (magic and miracles). This essay examines what elements of Shenyi culture were incorporated into Buddhism during this time, and what was the influence of this new culture on the growth of Chinese Buddhism. This essay argues that the most important features of Shenyi culture is that it was introduced by an outside force and an institutionalized religion. This is revealed through two different aspects of the culture: monks’ superpowers異能 and the miracles of Buddhist practice and rituals. Shenyi culture contributed to Chinese Buddhism by helping it be more readily accepted by Chinese society. By studying monks’ biographies and miracle tales, this thesis indicates monks’ superpowers have two main parts: the tradition of Buddhism Shentong神通(supernatural power) and their professional knowledge and techniques, including spells and Buddhist medicine. The other aspect of Shenyi culture is the miracles cultivated from Buddhist practices and rituals, also called Gantong感通 by medieval Buddhists. Buddhism not only brought about new practices and rituals, it also gave meaning to Gantong, or in other words, “encounters with the sacred”. For monks, Gantong was a recognition of their practice and cultivation; for laypeople, it proved their religious piety. By looking at Shenyi culture through the context of early Buddhism’s spread in China, it shows the significance of Shenyi on the spread of Buddhism. In the Sixteen Kingdoms period, spirit monks used their supernatural powers to win over non-Han rulers’ trust, gaining political shelter and support, which made Buddhist beliefs spread in the north. In East Jing and Southern dynasties, monks’ miracle tales not only enhanced their quality as Mingshi名士, but also made the gentry appreciate them more. In public society, monks’ superpowers, such as spells and medicine, gave them the ability to provide social relief. Meanwhile, as the leaders of Zhaihui齋會, monks assisted laypeople in their “encounters with the sacred”. These elements of Shenyi culture made Buddhism accessible to more people, and finally contributed to its widespread adoption in Chinese society.