试论中古佛典序跋的非单一性

On Non-unitary Nature of Prefaces and Postscripts to Buddhist Scriptures in the Middle Ancient Times

中古佛典序跋呈现出非单一性的特征,也即某一部佛典被题写有多个序文或跋文,佛典与其序文或跋文一一对应的局面被打破,它在发生时间、作者身份及题写数量等方面具有广泛与持续的复杂性。中古佛典序跋非单一性具有重要价值,能够直接或间接地折射出当时佛教的发展程度、佛典的价值属性以及被翻译与整理的频度、佛典序跋的灵活性及其自身的发展程度等。中古佛典序跋非单一性的形成与佛典的多次汉译及整理、佛典类型的丰富、佛教宗派的推动等因素密切相关。

The prefaces and postscripts to Buddhist scriptures in the middle ancient times are non-unitary, that is, a certain Buddhist scriptures were inscribed with a number of prefaces or postscripts and one-to-one corresponding relationship between Buddhist scripture and its preface and postscript is broken. There are extensive and continuing complexities in terms of its occurrence time, author identity and the number of inscriptions. The non-unitary nature of Buddhist preface and postscript in the middle ancient times has important value and reflects the development of Buddhism at that time, the value and attributes of Buddhist scriptures, the frequency of translation and edition, the flexibility of the prefaces and postscripts and their development.The formation of the non-unitary nature of prefaces and postscripts to Buddhist scriptures is closely related to the frequent Chinese translation and edition and the varied categories of Buddhist scriptures as well as the promotion by different Buddhist sects.