论宋朝对佛教的保护与限制政策

The Protection and Limitation of Buddhism in Song Dynasty

宋朝建立后停止了后周的废佛运动,佛教得以迅速发展。许多佛教著作在谈及宋代佛教政策时,一致认为宋政府对佛教采取的是支持态度、保护政策。这一判断是感性和武断的。事实上随佛教的迅速发展,自仁宗朝对佛教试经、剃度等政策又渐趋严。宋代在佛教政策上吸收前朝经验,更加趋向于理性:一方面要发挥佛教有益政治的功能,一方面又要严格限制僧尼人数过多等不利因素。对待佛教的政策也因时局而不断调整,即有支持,又有限制,总体表现为理性的良性政策。

After the establishment of Song, a Buddhism-abolishing movement that dated from Later Zhou was over and Buddhism developed rapidly. Many Buddhist works remarked alike Song-government policy to Buddhism as supporting and protective. This judgment was irrational and dogmatical. As a matter of fact, as Buddhism developed, the policies to examining Buddhist books and tonsure turned rigorous again since the sovereign of Ren emperor. In the matter of Buddhism policy, Song drew upon the experiences of preceding dynasty, tending to be more rational. While the Buddhism＇ s utility to politics was expected to be developed, the population of monks and nuns was curbed. The Buddhism policy was constantly altered as situations varied. There were both supports and limitations, and constructive policies in general.