明太祖与江南佛教上层的关系

The Relationship between Ming Taizu and the Uppers of South Buddhism

元末明初,江南地区为汉地佛教中心,法门兴盛,人才济济。名僧大德普遍淹通佛儒,与士大夫阶层有着广泛交往和密切的联系,是一股重要的社会力量。出于稳固明王朝统治和安定社会秩序的政治需要,明太祖重视对江南佛教上层的结纳与笼络,名僧大德普受征召,并择拔"通儒僧"出仕,径为所用。然而,在明太祖竭力强化专制统治的背景下,江南佛教上层累受各种"党狱"之祸的株连,政治压抑和迫害的阴霾常常笼罩在这些人的头上。经历了洪武一朝,江南佛教人才迅速凋零,僧团萎靡,江南佛教上层作为一股有影响的社会力量由此而消散。

In the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties,the southern region was the Han Buddhism Center.Eminent monks made acquainted with Buddhism and Confucianism and had extensive contacts with literati,was an important social force.For the need for political stability,Ming Taizu allured the eminent monks to be officials.However,in the context of authoritarian rule,the Uppers of South Buddhism were implicated and suffered the political oppression.Going through the whole Hongwu Age,the Buddhist talents quickly died out.As an influential social force,the Uppers of South Buddhism dissipated.