中古佛教与王权的关系

The relationship of Buddhism and the monarchical power in the Middle Ancient period

作为在中土生根的外来宗教,佛教的发展受到王权的影响甚著。与印度小乘佛教远离政治的传统不同,中古时期的中土佛教与王权渊源颇深。它们有时能够互为利好,佛教借助王权的支持得到大幅度的发展;有时由于种种原因矛盾激化,佛教遭受强大王权的重创,从而日渐式微。

As the religion rooted in China, Buddhism was influenced greatly with the monarchical power during its developing. Differing from India Buddhism far from the politics, Chinese Buddhism in mediaeval times had a close connection with the monarchical power. In a period, they benefited from each other, with which Buddhism grew up quickly with the support of monarchical power. While in another period, they came into conflict with each other, Buddhism inflicted heavy losses by the monarchical power and fell into a decline.