从南朝士人的素食观看佛教与中国本土文化的交融

On the Vegetarian Diet of the Scholars in the Southern Dynasty and Buddhism in China

蔬食是指粗粮和菜食,其本义是贫困的象征,但在中国传统文化语境中士人蔬食却具有孝道和德行的意义。南朝时期随着佛教逐渐融入中国社会,佛教的素食观逐渐对中国士人产生影响。士人蔬食在继承传统的同时,又加入了对佛教慈悲精神的遵循,甚至在关于死后的祭祀问题上,一些士人受佛教影响也主张用蔬果。这些都表明佛教不仅在理论上,而且在一般的行为规范上也对中国社会产生了重要影响。而正是从这些一般的行为规范上我们才更能看出佛教渗入中国文化的深度。

Vegetarian meal and coarse food grain are symbol of poverty, but in traditional Chinese context the vegetarian diet of the scholars means filial duty and morality, and virtuous conduct. But with the gradual integration of Buddhism and the Chinese society in the Southern Dynasty, the vegetarian diet of Buddhism had a direct impact upon the scholars. The scholars combined the tradition and the mercy of Buddhism. Furthermore, some scholars asked their children to use vegetable food in the memorial ceremony. From all these, we can see the breadth and depth of the infiltration of Buddhism.