仙凡幽明之间——汉画像石与“大象其生”

Continued in Afterlife:A New Study of Han Dynasty Stone Carvings

汉墓画像石雕刻的题材,除含有吉祥寓意的神话故事及装饰图样外,大部分为墓主人生前起居出行等情况的反映,以期墓主在地下仍延续其尘世间优越的生活;即所谓"大象其生"。画像石中之"楼阁拜谒图"里的受拜谒者即墓主人,双阙夹峙的楼阁即代表墓主人生前的房舍。汉墓所出装在木棺前挡之铜牌上标出的"天门"一词,乃指墓主之阴宅的大门。而汉代追求的成仙则指肉体的长生。当时尚未信奉死后灵魂升天堂的观念;直到佛教在中国盛行后,往生净土、六道轮回等说才广泛传播开来。

Apart from depicting legends with auspicious implications and decorative functions, stone carvings of the Han dynasty often reflect the happiness of the tomb occupant＇ s daily life, which was wished to continue after his/her death. In pictures showing people paying a formal visit to the tomb occupant - a theme commonly found in these carvings - the building between two gate towers symbolizes the house the tomb occupant lived in before he/ she was dead. The ＂天门＂ found on bronze plaques fixed to the front of some Han dynasty wooden coffins refer to residence the tomb occupant lived in after death. The concept of becoming immortal that prevailed during the Han should not be associated with ascending to heaven after death, as the Pure Land and ＂six ways of rebirth＂ beliefs did not become popular in China until the spread of Buddhism.