佛教的神聖空間－從伊利亞德觀點分析香港兩例

Sacred Space in Buddhism: An Analysis of Two Cases in Hong Kong from Mircea Eliade's Perspective

吳有能(William Yau-Nang Ng)

《臺灣宗教研究》 13卷1期 (2014/06) Pp. 63-98

摘要

本文擬從伊利亞德的視角管窺佛教的神聖空間，並以香港普照堂的密教法會及志蓮淨苑建築群為研究對象。伊利亞德對神聖空間的分析，強調符號系統、儀式及神話三方面，並指出三者背後都存在一恆常的結構。基於伊利亞德對神聖空間的理解，本文分析兩個佛教道場的符號系統及法會儀式的神聖空間，並試圖發掘其神話基礎所反映的「恆常的信仰結構」；最後，運用本研究所得試圖補充伊利亞德說之不足，從建構神聖空間的行為，反省中國佛教的人文精神特色。

關鍵字

志蓮淨苑 ； 伊利亞德 ； 神聖空間 ； 化生童子 ； 十六觀

並列摘要

Taking the examples of the Vajrayana Dharma assembly of the Hall of Universal Illumination (Puzhao tang普照堂) and the Chi Lin Nunnery building complex (Zhilian jingfan jingyuan jianzhuqun志蓮淨苑建築群), this paper attempts to explain Buddhist concepts of sacred space from the perspective of Mircea Eliade. Eliade's analysis of sacred space emphasizes three aspects-the symbolic system, ritual, and mythology-and seeks to point out the existing eternal structure behind these aspects. Employing such an understanding of sacred space, this paper analyzes the symbolic systems and rituals of these two Buddhist cases. It also seeks to uncover the ＂eternal belief structures＂ reflected in the mythology. Lastly, this paper makes use of the findings in this study to complement the limitations of Eliade's ideas. From the perspective of the act of constructing sacred space, this paper also reflects on the humanistic characteristics of Chinese Buddhism.

並列關鍵字

Chih Lin Nunnery (Zhilian jingyuan志蓮淨苑) ； Mircea Eliade ； sacred space ； virgins reborn through transformation in lotus (huasheng tongzi化生童子) ； sixteen meditations