《八关斋会报德记》石幢考述

On the Stone Pillar of Repaying Kindness at Eight Precepts Gathering

现存于河南商丘古城八关斋的《八关斋会报德记》石幢,碑文由唐代大书法家颜真卿书丹。内容主要记述唐代河南节度使田神功的功绩,以及当地人民在田神功大病初愈后为其祈福祛灾的佛教斋戒活动。此座碑刻具有较高的历史和文物价值,在我国古代佛教碑刻中占有重要地位。本文从石幢起源的角度切入,分析《八关斋会报德记》采用石幢的原因,并对该石幢的刻立与历史变迁进行考述。

Repaying kindness at eight precepts gathering stone pillar sits in the courtyard of Eight Guanzhai in the ancient city of Shangqiu, which was written by Yan Zhenqing, who was a famous calligrapher in Tang Dynasty. As recording some blessing activity to Buddhism, the body of this stone pillar was sculptured Buddhist octagonal Pillar. It is very important among ancient Chinese Buddhist inscriptions, and possesses significant value of history and cultural relic. This article analyses reasons why repaying kindness at eight precepts gathering adopts the form of stone pillar, and narrates the historical transition of this stone pillar.