常建〈題破山寺後禪院〉詩的禪理與禪趣

Zen Logic and Zen Theme in Chang Jian's (常建) "Composed upon Po Shan Temple's Hou Chan Chamber" (〈題破山寺後禪院〉)

張清泉(Qing-Quan Zhang)

《國文學誌》 6期 (2002/12) Pp. 157-174

https://doi.org/10.6973/CJ.200212.0157

摘要

「禪詩」是佛教文學中重要的一環，唐代常建的〈題破山寺後禪院〉詩可說是禪詩中的上選。第一聯「清晨入古寺，初日照高林」，使用了華嚴經「日照高峰」的譬喻，稱頌這座寺廟不只歷史悠久，而且宏揚了佛教中最高深的華嚴妙義。第二聯「曲徑通幽處，禪房花木深」，象徵佛法修行過程之曲折繁複，並讚頌僧眾的禪定功夫高深。第三聯「山光悅鳥性，潭影空人心」，上句說「有」，下句說「空」，宣揚佛教「空有相即」的道理。第四聯「萬籟此俱寂，惟聞鐘磬音」，上句說「寂」，下句說「照」，闡述佛教「寂照雙融」的道理。此外，每一聯中的上下句，更形成了「事理、行止、有空、靜動」，兩端相對卻又統合的中道之美。由此可見，此詩確為禪詩中的上乘之作。

關鍵字

中道 ； 破山寺 ； 常建 ； 禪詩

並列摘要

Zen poetry (禪詩) is a significant genre of Buddhist literature. Chang Jian's (常建) “Composed upon Po Shan Temple's Hou Chan Chamber” (〈題破山寺後禪院〉) of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝) can be regarded as one of the best of its kind. The first couplet: “Entering the temple in the morning, the rising sun shines on the high trees” alludes to the metaphor of the “sun shining on mountain peaks” in Avatamsaka Sutra (華嚴經), praising that this temple not only has endured and prevailed, but also has glorified the most profound Avatamsakan implications for the Buddhist community. The second couplet: “Winding paths lead to the deepest places, Zen houses among woods and flowers” symbolizes the winding paths one have to take toward orthodox Buddhism, praising the skillful Zen meditation the monks have cultivated. The third couplet: “Mountain light takes pleasure in the bird's character, with the shadow of the lake preempting the eye's mind” has “have” in the first line and “have-not” in the second, advocating the moral of Buddhist motto: “Empty and full are close.” The fourth couplet: “While all voices are silent, you only hear the bell” has “silence” in the first line, and “reflection” in the second, interpreting the Buddhist motto: “Silence and reflection are blended together.” In addition, each couplet has a dual motif in effect: “things vs. logic, action vs. non-action, fullness vs. emptiness, silence and motion,” dualistic but united in the beauty of the middle way. From these, this poem could indeed be regarded as a superior choice for Zen poetry.

並列關鍵字

the middle way ； Po Shan Temple ； Chang Jian ； Zen poetry