论明代的僧人群体及其法律规制

Buddhist Monk Community and Legal Regulations in the Ming Dynasty

明代将僧人群体的管理纳入了世俗的行政体系,在保护佛教的同时,也创设了大量针对僧人的法律规范,并采用度牒制度控制僧人群体的整体规模。同时,明代对僧人的法律规范呈现出泛伦理化的特征,而僧人群体构成的日益社会化,僧人自身行为的渐趋低俗化,不仅损害了僧人群体的整体社会形象,也对佛教的发展产生了深远的影响。

During the Ming Dynasty the Buddhist monk community is managed under the secular administrative system. The Buddhist monk community was bound by legal ties and the institution of bestowing certification to monks was established to restrain the scale of monks community. The Buddhist monk community constitution became socialized gradually, and the Buddhist monks＇ behavior gradually vulgarized, which not only harmed the Buddhist monk community＇s overall social images, but also had the profound influence on Buddhism development.