西江,佛教东渐之路

The Xijiang River:A Waterway of Eastward Spreading of Buddhism

东汉时期,佛教由南海商路传入中国,而作为海陆丝绸之路交汇点的梧州以及西江水道,是佛教由南向北传播的必由之路。梧州从而成为佛教繁盛之地,佛学中国化的发源地,也是岭南佛教文化之源,出现了牟子、康僧会、契嵩、惠能等佛学大师。达摩祖师与鉴真大师也曾在西江流域传播佛学。

Duirng the time of The Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism spread into China along the trade route through the South China Sea. Wuzhou, a meeting-point of the ocean silk road and inland silk road, and Xijiang Waterway are the only place and way through which Buddhism spread from the south to the north of China. Therefore, Wuzhou has developed into a place where Buddhism flourishes, the home where Buddhism is localized and the source of Buddhist culture in the south China, with some Buddhist masters, such as Mouzi, Kangsen-ghui, Qihao, Huineng, etc., emerging. Besides, Patriarch Bodhidharma and master Jianzhen disseminated Buddhism over the valley of the Xijiang River.