唐代长江上中游地区的民间佛教信仰

Folk Buddhism Belief in the Upper and Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River in Tang Dynasty

自六朝至唐代,长江上中游地区是佛教传播的重要区域之一。本区多大山深谷,是南北僧人精研教义、弘扬佛法的的理想场所。佛教信仰不仅流布于通都大邑,而且深入到穷乡僻壤,深深影响着当地的民俗生活。佛教信仰于本区兴盛的原因,一是统治阶级的大力提倡;二是人们笃信佛教,祈佛消灾降福。此外,还与本区俗信鬼神的传统似乎也有某种关系。随着佛教在本区的传布,民众对佛教的信仰与他们的传统信仰及民间祭祀获得了某种程度的结合。

Generally speaking, the upper and middle reach of the Yangtze River was one of the important regions for the spreading of Buddhism from the Six Dynasties to the Tang dynasty. This region has many great mountains and deep valleys, which made it an ideal occasion for monks both from the north and south for thoroughly studying and advertising Folk Buddhism. Folk Buddhism Belief spread widely not only to the bigger towns and cities, but also deep into the remote and backward places. It deeply affected the tradition and lives there. The reasons for the flourish of Folk Buddhism Belief owed firstly to the positive advocating of the gerentocratic class, secondly to the deep belief of people who praying for blessing and averting disasters at the same time. Further, I think that this phenomenon seemed to have some connection with the tradition of belief in ghost and gods in the region. With the spreading of Buddhism in this area, the local people＇s belief in Buddhism was somewhat combined with their traditional belief and folk sacrificial offering.