上海龙华寺与净土崇拜

Shanghai Longhua Temple and Its Pure Land Worship

龙华寺地处滨海,又处于上海地区中心,为四方经济交流的要道,所以它最能体现上海净土信仰之特点。龙华寺的净土崇拜具有多样性特征,多年来一直吸引和影响着广大下层信众,也引起文人们的兴趣。而西方净土的崇拜则是龙华寺净土崇拜的主要特色,它是由一系列信奉净土的高僧驻锡而形成的。西方净土与天台宗在龙华寺的紧密结合构成了该寺净土崇拜的另一特色。弥勒信仰虽在北方较南方为盛,但作为海道要冲的上海则又易吸收北方净土信仰的特色。因此,龙华寺净土信仰在弥勒信仰加盟下更具特色和活力。

The pure land worship in Longhua Temple appeared various characters. It attracted and influenced a lot of people in lower levels and it also interested scholars. In history many venerable monks who believed in Pure Land used to live in Longhua Temple, which formed the main character of Western Pure Land worship in Longhua Temple. The close combination Western Pure Land and Tiantai Buddhism constituted another character. Although Maitreya worship was more popular in the north than that in the south, Shanghai located by the sea easily absorbed the character of Pure Land belief in the north. Therefore, Longhua Pure Land belief proved itself more typical and vivid because of absorbing Maitreya worship.