功德思想与敦煌荐亡愿文

The Concept of Merits and Dunhuang Prayer Manuscripts

敦煌斋愿文中,有相当一部分是用来追荐亡人的仪式文本。这些仪式和敦煌其他许多斋仪相似,通常都是以佛教斋会为依托,在仪式过程中借助语言和文本来表达仪式诉求。佛教化的追荐仪式得以发生,与佛教功德思想有关。功德思想在逻辑上为包括荐亡在内的许多佛教仪式梳理了一条脉络,借助布施、设斋等佛事行为而产生功德,功德又能够发生转移,从而生人追荐亡者为其"做功德"成为可能。

Many Dunhuang prayer manuscripts were used in funeral rituals. They express the intention by words and texts during ritual procedures. Originating from Buddhist concept of merits, Buddhist funeral happened. The concept of merits supports funeral practice logically. Merits generate from practice and could be transferred, rooting in such base it is reasonable for the living making merits for decedent.