从佛典识“玻璃”——兼谈古代印度宝石学对中国的影响

Recognize " Bo-Li(glass) " through the Buddhist scriptures——Also on the influence of Indian gemology on ancient China

"玻璃"是古印度俗语"phaliha"或巴利语"phalika"的音译。该词大约在三国时期通过佛教传入中国,早期多写作"颇梨""颇黎""玻瓈"等,唐代开始出现"玻璃"的写法。它最初是指水精似的无色透明宝石,后来也指红宝石、蓝宝石、尖晶石等颜色艳丽且莹澈通透的彩色宝石,直到宋代才开始用来称呼硅酸盐类人造材料,也即今天所说的玻璃。今天的人造玻璃在古代通常被称为"琉璃",只是宋元时期"琉璃"渐成釉陶制品专名,而人造玻璃与宝石"玻璃"通透的性状相似,因此其名称就由"琉璃"渐变为了"玻璃"。从"玻璃"和"琉璃"等词汇传播和使用情况,我们可以看到印度宝石学知识如何以佛教为载体渗透到古代中国的。

"玻璃-Bo-Li(Glass)"is the transliteration of the ancient colloquial Indian"phaliha"or Pali"phalika".The term was introduced into China through Buddhism possibly during the period of Three Kingdoms.In the early days,it was written as"Poli(颇梨)","Poli(颇黎)",and"Boli(玻瓈)".The writing of"Boli(玻璃)"began to appear in the Tang dynasty.It originally referred to the colorless and transparent crystal-like gemstones,and later also referred to rubies,sapphires,spinels and other bright and transparent colored gemstones.It was not until the Song Dynasty that it began to be used to call silicate artificial materials that we call"玻璃glass"today.Today’s man-made glass is usually called"Liuli(琉璃)"in ancient times,but"Liuli"gradually became the name of glazed pottery products in the Song and Yuan dynasties.The transparent properties of man-made glass and gem"glass"are similar,so the name of"Liuli"gradually changed to"Boli(玻璃)".From the use and spread of"玻璃(Boli)"and"琉璃(Liuli)",we can see how Indian gemological knowledge,using Buddhism as a carrier,permeated into ancient China.