汉唐时期的西域佛教及其东传路径

Buddhism in Western Regions during Han and Tang Dynasty:Its Eastward Paths

汉唐时期是西域佛教形成、发展及向内地传播的主要历史阶段。丝绸之路的开通与魏晋时期西域诸城郭大国的局部统一,为佛教在西域的传播与发展提供了坚实的经济与政治基础。西域佛教也因之在汉唐时期进入到发展的全盛期,并呈现出多中心和多样化的特征。西域佛教通过西域僧人东行弘法、内地僧人西行求法、政治交往、军事征伐、人口迁徙和商业贸易等几个主要路径向东方传播,而这些多样的、双向的传播路径对该时期西域与内地佛教文化的发展产生了深远的影响。

In the period between Han and Tang dynasty, the Buddhism in Western Regions had gradually come into being and developed, which was also the main historical stage for its spreading eastward, because of the officially opening of the Silk Road and the partial political uniform in West- ern Regions. There have being several Buddhist centers with diverse characteristics in Western Re- gions. There are several paths for the Buddhism in Western Regions to spread eastward. The first path is that the monks from the Western Regions went to inland of China to propagate the Buddhist teachings. The second path is that the monks from inland went to Western Regions to seek Dharma. The third path is the political communication between the inland and Western Regions. The fourth path is the military expedition by the inland regime to Western Region. The fifth path is the popula- tion migration between the inland and Western Region. The sixth path is the commercial trade be- tween the inland and Western Region. Through the above multiple and bidirectional paths, the Bud- dhism in Western Region had a profound effect on the development of Buddhist culture inland.