佛教因果观与六朝至初唐志怪小说

THE IDEA OF KARMA IN BUDDHISM AND GHOST STORIES IN THE PERIOD FROM THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DYNASTIES TO EARLY TANG DYNASTY

中国志怪类小说脱胎于古代神话,到了魏晋南北朝,志怪小说才发展成为一种独立的小说类型。与此同时,于汉末传入中国的佛教也逐渐摆脱了道教的附庸地位,开始正式在中国社会宣传自己的宗教思想。而佛教观念中最基本的因果观,随着佛教的传播渗透到社会生活的方方面面,反映在小说中,即是志怪小说中出现了大量宣扬因果报应的故事。佛教因果观不仅为六朝以后的志怪小说提供了新的素材,而且其思想还深入到了小说的叙事逻辑结构之中。

Chinese ghost stories rooted in ancient fables. By Wei-Jin Dynasties and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, ghost stories developed into an independent mode of novel. During the same period, Buddhism started to spread its religious ideas in Chinese society. The idea of karma in Buddhism affected various aspects of Chinese social life. As a reflection in literature, many ghost stories advocating karma appeared. Karma not only provided materials for ghost story writing, it also affected its narrative and logic structure.