透過初唐著名的佛教大師的視角看比丘尼眾

Buddhist Nuns Through the Eyes of Leading Early Tang Masters

儘管佛教律制規定,比丘尼應於比丘和比丘尼兩部僧團中請受具足戒。但是,中國佛教第一個比丘尼僧團只在比丘僧團中受具足戒。《比丘尼傅》是一部編撰於公元6世紀初的中國比丘尼傅記,據該書的記载,這次受戒曾引起關於中國比丘尼眾合法地位之討論。公元433年,随著一個具有證戒資格的獅子國比丘尼僧團的來到,中國尼眾的所謂“二度受戒”變得可行,因而也使中國歷史上第一次“二部僧授戒”得以實行。它確立了比丘尼眾在僧伽中的合法身份。然而,在男眾爲主導之準則保持不變的情況下,女眾的地位依舊會引起爭議,甚至質疑。這種男性準則,在諸如道宣(596—667)、道世(?—683)等具有影響力的律师的著作中得到特别的強調。本文將以比丘尼眾在僧伽中所扮演的角色爲背景,來分析和比較這些律宗大師的觀點。

The first Chinese Buddhist nuns were ordained in the monks'community only,despite disciplinary guidelines stating that nuns should be ordained both in the nuns'community(bhik sun Isamgha)and in the monks,community(bhiksunisamgha).As can be seen from the Biqiuni zhuan(比丘尼傳),which is a collection of biographies of Chinese nuns compiled in the early sixth century,this situation gave rise to discussions on the legal status of the Chinese bhiks unlsamgha.Inc.433,a so-called second ordination became possible with the arrival of a group of Sinhalese nuns who could legally act as nun witnesses,thus making it possible that,for the first time in history,a dual ordination,in both communities,could be held in China.It confirmed the full status of Chinese nuns in monastic institutions.Nevertheless,the status of women still raised questions and even doubt,with male dominance remaining standard This male standard is particularly underscoredin the writings of influential vinaya(disciplinary)masters,such as Daoxuan道宣(596—667),Daoshi道世(?一683),and others.In this article,their views will beanalyzed and compared,against the background of the nuns'institutional role.