敦煌文学与儒学关系述论

On the Relationship between Dunhuang Literature and Confucianism

敦煌文学与儒学关系密切而错综复杂。敦煌文学尊崇儒家大义,故以儒家思想为其基源性母题,形成其经世济俗的基调。同时,敦煌文学又不满官方儒学的权威,故又魔化孔子,戏谑儒家经典。面对儒佛之争,敦煌文学以其特有的方式积极调适儒佛关系,在维护儒学固有地位的同时,为佛学争取发展空间,敦煌文学的独特格调由此而形成。

It is well known that Dunhuang literature was largely influenced by Buddhism, but it also held a close but complicated relationship to Confucianism. Confucianism was an important theme in Dunhuang litera- ture but also demonized Confucius, joked about Confucian texts, and deconstructed the power of Confucianism because it was not satisfied with its authority. During the debates between Confucianism and Buddhism, Dunhuang literature actively adjusted its relationships to these two schools of thought by maintaining the already established basis of Confucianism while leaving space for the further development of Buddhism. In this way the u- nique style of Dunhuang literature took shape.