北朝葬礼之“尼礼”探析

Study on the Buddhist nuns' funeral rites in the North Dynasty

"尼礼",即按尼姑的丧礼殡葬,在正史中仅见于北朝出家皇后的葬礼。通过对历史文献和墓志中反映的尼姑丧礼进行分析,可发现尼姑的丧礼因人而隆杀不同,具体仪式与常人无别。尼礼异于世俗丧礼的地方,在于生前为尼,死后葬在尼姑聚葬之地。北朝尼礼的出现同佛教在北朝的流行密不可分,也与北朝丧礼等级的不断细化有关。

＂Nuns＇ Rites＂, which can be found in the formal historical books in the description of the Buddhist Queen＇ s funeral, refers to the rites of the Buddhist nuns＇ funeral. This essay analyzes the historical documents and the relevant epitaphs and finds out that the different nuns＇ funerals are different and the specific etiquettes are similar with common people＇ s funerals. The only difference between the nuns＇ funeral and the common people＇ s funerals was that the nuns were buried in certain graveyards for nuns. The funeral for nuns had close relationship with the popularization of the Buddhism and the gradual specification of the funerals of different classes.