《老子化胡经》与佛道之争

Laozi Huahujing and the Argument between Buddhism and Taoism

《老子化胡经》是与老子化胡说相关的系列道经的总称,所涉及的核心问题至少有三点:其一,老子的出生年代;其二,老子如何化胡;其三,老子为何要化胡。由于《老子化胡经》将佛教创立的专利权归属于老子或尹喜,并侮辱了佛教徒,因而激起了佛教徒的强烈不满,他们曾有针对性地提出三圣东行说和宝应声菩萨、宝吉祥菩萨化为伏羲、女娲说来抗衡道教的老子化胡说。根据佛教方面的记载,历史上佛道关于《老子化胡经》的真伪之争发生过多次,其中北魏孝明帝正光元年(520)、唐高宗显庆五年(660)、元宪宗八年(1258)的辩论很具代表性,道教在这三次辩论中均告败北。老子化胡之说本属向壁虚构,却在中国长期流传,非因其伪而为历史上的某些道教徒所抛弃而屡加利用,究其根源,一是由于中国传统的夷夏观念根深蒂固,二是由于古人对老子和释迦牟尼生平的不确切了解。

Laozi Huahujing is a Taoism scripture relating to how Lao-Tzu cultivates Buddhism,and is also a scripture argued by Taoism and Buddhism. It covers three important points. Lao-Tzu＇s birth time,how Lao-Tzu cultivates Buddhism;and why Lao-Tzu cultivates Buddhism. Since it came out, this scripture has roused sharp criticism from Buddhism and has been greatly challenged. This paper discusses the authenticity of the content of the scripture, and analyzes the reasons for it.