不空三藏研究述評:以肅、代兩朝的活動為中心

A Review of Previous Scholarship on Bukong(705-774)

自上世紀中葉以來,針對不空三藏出現了相當數量的研究成果。圍繞這位著名的'唐密祖師',史料最為樂道其畢生對密教傳持和國家福祉的不二追求;而大多數現代學者截取他的某些活動、事件、生活片段以及傳記和相關典籍,采取或更為宗教的或更為世俗的基點,以申各自理性客觀之解讀。雖多有發明而各成一説,又不免捍格。更重要的是,學者往往難以跳出原始史料圈設,徑入史實性的探究,而對歷史叙事本身失察或考察不足。而歷史叙事作為一種實踐,在不空的情况中,當牽涉多方面的意義甚至利益。本文對先前研究作詳細述評,認為接下來應該以退為進,去揭示叙事本身的多重歷史意義。這就需要一份全面而精確的年表,一則幫助凸顯叙事問題點,二則排查先前研究中的時空舛誤并評估其議題的切要性。

Quite a few essays and monographs on Bukong(aka.Amoghavajra,705-774),the well-known patriarch of Esoteric Buddhism in Tang China,have emerged since the mid-20 th century,most of which concern his activities,events,life episodes,biography,as well as texts related to him.In respect of those primary sources,Bukongs persistent devotion to the indiscriminate pursuit of Esoteric Buddhism and of state welfare is the favourite theme,whereas most modern scholars assume either a more religious or a more historical approach to their issues.The interpretations,though illuminating,are discrete;they render the same subjects hardly compatible and arouse further puzzles.Moreover,intrigued by the facts that the primary narrative tends to highlight,scholars involve themselves in seeking historical objectivity,with inadequate appreciation of the primary narrative per se.Indeed,in the case of Bukong,weaving such narrative could be of great implications and interests within multiple contexts.This paper presents a detailed survey of the previous scholarship and calls for in future studies a step back to the examination of the historiographical practices,against the historical background in question.In so doing,an accurate and comprehensive chronology of Bukong’s life is necessary for discovering hidden agendas,and in addition,it prevents any anachronism and helps to locate the more significant issues.