弘化寺:一个藏传佛教寺院的兴衰与区域演变史

Honghua Temple:The Ups and Downs of a Tibetan Buddhism Temple and Regional Evolutionary History

弘化寺是明正统年间敕建于河湟地区的一座藏传佛教寺院,经明朝和清初的优渥和扶持政策,盛极一时,掌握着当地宗教、政治、经济、税收等权力。随着清朝的拓疆开土,弘化寺一带不再是边关,不再是朝廷倚重的对象,在整治中趋向衰败。在历史演进中,弘化寺一带由番地变为汉地,民族格局亦从纳马番族转变为汉、回二族。随着地理文化生态的变迁,弘化寺的香火和信徒日益减少。弘化寺不仅见证了甘青交界藏传佛教的兴衰,亦映照了区域社会的变迁。

Honghua temple, a Tibetan Buddhism temple which was built according to imperial order during the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty in Hehuang Area,was significantly developed by munificent and supportive policies, and resulted in its control of local religion, politics, economy and taxation. With the expansion of the Qing dynasty＇s territorial boundaries, the area Honghua temple no longer located on the frontier, nor relied on the im- perial government and thus started to decline.It was renovated and merged with China＇s territory. The ethnic pat- tern changed from Namafanzu （纳马番族） to Hui-Han people. Witha change of geographical and cultural ecolo- gy, donation and followers of Honghua temple also gradually reduced. The change witnessed by the Honghua tem- ple was not confined to the Tibetan Buddhism at the border of Gansu and Qinghai provinces as it was a change in regional society as well.