菩提樹在佛教意象之研究－以印度菩提伽耶為中心

佛教與樹有相當密切的關係，釋迦牟尼佛在「無憂樹」下誕生，在「菩提樹」下成道，在「娑羅雙樹」下涅槃，因此後世稱為佛教三大聖樹。依據大乘佛教思想，過去、現在、未來一切佛，若即將成佛，一定會坐在「菩提樹」。依照經典的敘述，可知諸佛成道，沒有共同專屬的「菩提樹」，端賴於在哪一樹下成道，該樹即可稱為「菩提樹」。然而由於佛坐於該樹下成道，因此在尚未廣泛雕塑佛像之前，多以「菩提樹」來象徵「佛」。印度菩提伽耶的佛陀成道處，有「釋迦牟尼佛成道後七週之處」的紀念處與告示牌，第一週：金剛座，第二週：永不闔眼定視處—塔，第三週：佛陀經行處（走動中覺住），皆與「菩提樹」相關。印度阿育王的女兒僧伽蜜多，從印度親自捧菩提樹分枝前往錫蘭，而種植於首都阿耨羅（Anurādhapura）城南之大眉伽林（Mahāmegha）中，這象徵佛法從印度弘傳至錫蘭。印度菩提伽耶的金剛座旁的菩提樹曾遭受毀壞，於是後人又從錫蘭分枝，迎回菩提伽耶種植，這象徵佛成道時的菩提樹並未斷絕，有傳承久遠的意義。

關鍵字

釋迦牟尼佛；菩提樹；金剛座；菩提伽耶；阿育王

並列摘要

Buddhism has a very close relationship with the tree. Sakyamuni Buddha was born under the Aoska tree (Saraca indica), got enlightenment under Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), attained to parnirvana under Sala tree (Shorea robusta), these trees are named three sacred tree of Buddhism. According to Mahayana Buddhism, all Buddhas in the past, present, and future will surely sit in the ＂Bodhi tree＂ if they are to become Buddhas. According to the Scriptures narrative, it can be seen that the Buddhas became enlightened and there was no common ＂Bodhi tree＂, depending on which tree under which got enlightenment. This tree can be called ＂Bodhi tree＂. However, because the Buddha got enlightened under the tree, before the Buddha statue was widely sculptured, the ＂Bodhi tree＂ symbolized the ＂Buddha＂. Buddha got enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya of India, where with the memorial and signage of ＂Seven weeks after Sakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment＂. The first week: Vajrasana (The Diamond Throne); the second week: Animasa Locana (The Place of Unwinking Gazing); the third week: Cankamana (Cloister Walk), all related to Bodhi tree.