佛教与中古中外交通

Biddhism and the Communication Between China and Foreign Countries in the Han and Tang Dynasties

中国古代对外交通路线的形成和发展与佛教文化交流的关系十分密切。特别是在中古时期(汉-唐),佛教僧侣西行求法,东来传教,或陆路,或海路,往返于中国本土与域外诸国之间,是古代东、西方交通往来的重要内容。中外僧侣东来西往主观上是为了弘扬佛法,他们或逾越流沙,或泛漾洪波,着其先鞭,导夫先路,客观上促进了中古中国对外交通路线的开拓和发展。佛教僧人西行求法亲见亲闻的纪行之作,不仅大大充实了中外交通史的内容,而且可以与正史文献参照比勘,成为我们研究中古中外交通史的珍贵资料。

The shaping and development of the communication route between China and foreign countries in ancient times was closely related to the spread of Buddhist culture, especially from the Han dynasty to the Tang dynasty. It was an important part of communication during that time when Buddhist monks journeyed to and fro between China and foreign countries by land or by sea either westward to seek Buddhist doctrine or eastward to preach. The communication of these monks, Chinese or foreign, had subjectively meant to spread Buddhism. However, objectively, they hadpromoted the opening and development of the communication route. The travelogues written by these monks have not only enriched the history of communication, but also formed an indispensable compensation to the authorized history and precious data for the study of the history of communication between China and foreign countries i n the Hart and Tang dynasties.