“五体投地”源流考

The Origin and Development of Wuti Toudi

"五体投地"最初是古印度一种最恭敬的行礼仪式,后为佛教沿用。我国的最早记载出现在东汉康孟祥《中本起经》卷下,它的致敬对象一般是佛教修行者,也可以是外道修行者、王者和佛教修行地。历史上它还有"顶礼"、"五轮投地"、"五轮着地"等众多形式。"五体投地"因其音节对称、声韵和谐、通俗易懂、生动形象而取代了其他形式,发展到现代,意义范围扩大,多含讽刺或诙谐意味。

The idiom of Wuti Toudi derives from the last of two volumes of Zhong Ben Qi Jing ,which was translated by Kang Mengxiang in Eastern Han Dynasty,is originally used for soluting greatly to the Buddhists,the Heresy Buddhists,the kings and temples as well in ancient india. It also has some other forms such as Dingli,Wulun Toudi,Wulun Zhaodi in the historical developemnt courses. The form of Wuti Toudi replaces the others because of its symmetrical syllable,sound correspondence,easy-to-read and vivid description. With the sense development,it also means to give somebody full marks ironi-cally and playfully.