佛教在元大都传布的历史考察

Historical Investigation of Spread of Buddhism in Yuan

元朝是由蒙古贵族建立的幅员辽阔而统一的多民族大帝国。元统治者在宗教信仰上实行"兼容并包"和承认现状的政策,对中原地区已有的道教、佛教、伊斯兰教、基督教,以及其他宗教信仰都予以承认,故在元朝形成了多种宗教与文化并存、共同发展的局面。由于蒙、藏的特殊关系,元朝统治者对藏传佛教尤为尊崇,并且将藏传佛教的"领袖由国师提为帝师,建立起元代特有的帝师制度,使藏传佛教及其领袖具有了崇高的社会地位["1]696。由于元朝统治者对佛教特殊的关爱,在元帝国大都,即北京地区,无论是汉传佛教,还是藏传佛教都颇为兴盛。元朝政府在至元二十五年(1288年)改总制院为宣政院,进一步加强了对全国佛教的管理。元大都遂成为佛教发展的中心。

The Yuan Dynasty was a vast, unified and multi-ethnic empire established by the Mongolian nobility. In the Yuan Dynasty, Mongolian rulers adopted the ＂inclusive＂ and the recognition of the status quo policy in religious beliefs; and recognized Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and other religious beliefs in central China, thus forming a situation in which a variety of religions and culture coexisted and developed together. Because of the special relations between Mongolian and Tibetan nationalities, Mongolian rulers particularly respected Tibetan Buddhism and ＂promoted the leader （of Tibetan Buddhism） from a national teacher to a teacher of emperor, and established the unique system of emperor education, which gave Tibetan Buddhism and its leader a high social status.＂ In view of the Yuan dynasty rulers＇ special care and love for Buddhism, in the capital of Yuan Empire, i.e. Beijing care, Tibetan Buddhism was quite prosperous during the ruling period of the Yuan Dynasty. In the 25th year of the Yuan Dynasty （1288 AD）, by changing Zongzhi Institute to Xuanzheng Institute, the Yuan govemment further strengthened the management of the national Buddhism. Yuan Dadu hence became the center of the development of Buddhism.