佛教伦理与明清以来江南工商文化精神

Buddhist Ethics and Business Culture of South Yangtze River Delta since Ming and Qing Dynasties

中唐以后,中国佛教精神从出世转向入世。无论是新禅宗还是受新禅宗影响的新儒家都不再把"出世法"和"世间法"截然分开,"世间法即佛法,佛法即世间法"的入世精神成为唐宋以后中国宗教伦理的核心。江南地区不仅是明清时期中国佛教最兴盛的地区,也是中国经济的重心,是工商文化发育最成熟、最典型的地区;而江南工商文化精神的形成正是受到佛教入世伦理的深刻影响。江南工商文化精神主要表现为:以赚取利润为目的的工商业得到全社会的普遍认同;"勤俭"、"诚信"、"忍辱"等成为江南商人的宝贵品质。

Since middle Tang dynasty,the spirit of Chinese Buddhism has shifted from ＂out of society＂ to ＂in the society＂.Neither the new Chan Buddhism nor the new Confucianism affected by the former no longer totally separated ＂natural law＂ and ＂worldly law＂ and the thought＂Worldly law is dharma and vice versa＂has become the core of religious ethics in China since Tang and Song dynasties.Not only was the south Yangtze river delta most prosperous area,but it also was the economic center,mature place of business culture in the Ming and Qing periods.It was the thought of Buddhist ＂in the society＂ that affected the formation of business culture in south Yangtze River delta.Its spirit displayed as follows： profit-purposed industry and commerce was universally recognized by the society and such qualities as ＂thrifty＂,＂creditability＂ and ＂humiliation enduring＂ had become valuable virtues of southern businessmen in China.