佛经文学与六朝小说感应征验母题——以《观世音经》的盛行为考察中心

On Buddhist Sutras and Motif of Response from Buddha in Six Dynasties' Novels——with the Prevalence of Guanshiyinjin as the Center of Investigation

将一些神奇事件的发生归因于佛与众生的心有灵犀,这是佛教感应观的重要内容。这一观点与中土早已有之的感应学说相契合,在佛教大盛的六朝对士人产生了重要影响,其直接表现就是六朝小说中产生了感应征验母题,这一母题一般由民众陷入困厄,归心释氏乞求保佑解救,菩萨显灵使其脱离困厄三个环节构成,对后来的感应小说创作影响重大。

The doctrine of response from Buddha holds that miraculous events result from a tacit understanding between Buddha and all living creatures. This doctrine, which accorded with theory of retribution in China, influenced scholars deeply, the direct effect of which was the production of motif of response from Buddha in Six Dynasties novels. This motif contained three parts： trapped in a difficult situation, converted to Buddhism, and relieved from pain by Buddha. The motif also affected later fiction.