宋元道书所见瘟疫醮考源

Plague-expelling Rites Recorded in the Taoist Books of the Song and Yuan Dynasties

瘟疫醮,又称"禳瘟疫醮"、"断瘟疫醮",乃系道门中人专为祛除或预防疠疫而举行的醮事科仪,其宗旨是为地方民众驱逐瘟疫、祈求平安。宋元时期道教文献中收录了古代民间瘟疫醮之翔实史料,其中包括瘟疫醮的起源、流程、神位、法信及疏文等诸多内容。这批珍贵的教内资料完整地记录了诸多道派对瘟疫醮的形式、流程及内涵的宗教理解和操作实践。道教文献中所见的瘟疫醮始于晚唐,宋元时已告成熟,其核心内容包括净坛、卫灵、请神、三献、送神、散坛等环节;其召请的神祇不仅有天地、山川等自然神,而且将年月、日时等时间概念神格化;仪式陈设的法信物品也随着社会发展而日渐丰厚和彰显个性。此外,宋元道书中收录的各类瘟疫醮疏文则体现出了不同道派处置瘟疫祅鬼时的两种态度:礼敬和瘟、强制驱逐。

Plague-expelling rites are rites held by Taoists to prevent or expel plagues or epidemics for the peaceful life of the local people. The Taoist books in the Song and Yuan dynasties recorded the details of such rites, including their origin, procedures, shrines, holy articles, letters to gods, etc. At those rites, the performers would clean the ahar, invite gods and send gods. They showed the two different attitudes towards plagues： treating plagues politely and expelling by force.