从历史到神话:古代佛陀传记的文本发展史

From History to Mythology:History of Textual Development of Ancient Sakyamuni's Stories

讲述佛教创始人释迦牟尼降生、觉悟成道直至寂灭过程的故事被称为"佛陀传记",古代佛陀传记文本主要包括汉译佛传、其他原典文献中的佛传故事、中国人编撰的佛传以及佛教类书等文献中的佛传故事。这些文本从纵向上反映出一定的阶段性特征,从横向上又体现出同一内容所具有的多样性。随着佛教的发展,佛陀由历史人物逐渐转变为神话人物。佛陀传记是佛陀神话的载体,最早的佛传产生于部派佛教晚期、大乘佛教初期,而后于大乘佛教时期发展成熟。

The story of Buddhism founder Sakyamuni ＇s birth, enlightened enlightenment, and the process of extinction was called the ＂Sakyamuni＇ s Stories＂. The ancient text about Sakyamuni＇s Stories in- cludes the Chinese translation of Buddhist scriptures, other Buddha stories in other original documents, the Buddha biography compiled by Chinese and Buddhist stories written in classified Buddhist literatures. These texts reflect a certain stage characteristics and diversity. With the development of Buddhism, the Buddha gradually changed from a historical figure to a mythical figure. Sakyamuni＇s Stories are the carrier of the Buddha＇s mythology. The earliest Sakyamuni＇s Stories in the true sense were born in the times of late Secterian Indian Buddhism and the early period of Mahayana Buddhism. The flourishing stage of it is in the Age of Mahayana Buddhism.