北魏立皇后铸金人占卜习俗考论

Convention Examination of Casting Metal Figure for Divination when Northern Wei Dynasty Chooses An Empress

根据《魏书》记载,北魏立皇后时要举行一个奇特的仪式,这就是"铸金人"以占卜吉凶。占卜时所铸造的"金人"就是佛像。这一习俗开始于道武帝拓跋=时期,太武帝拓跋焘灭佛后被废除,实际仅仅实行了两代。在北魏前期,这一习俗与佛教的兴衰相始终,是北魏崇信佛教在生活习俗上的反映。

Northern Wei Dynasty at the empress＇ selection took a special ceremony,which is the casting of metal figure to divine whether auspicious or not.Divination by casting the metal figure is the Buddha.This custom began in Emperor Daowu period,and was abolished after Emperor TaiWu Tuobatao extinguishes Buddhism,only has carried out for two generations.Early in Northern Wei Dynasty,this custom is always living with rising and falling of Buddhism.This is the reflect of Northern Wei respecting Buddhism.