日本近世佛教堕落论考辨

A Study on “The theory of the fall of Buddhism in the Edo period”

长期以来,人们对日本近世佛教的认知不可避免地受原坦山、村上专精、辻善之助等学术权威的影响,认为日本近世僧侣苟且偷安,佛教深陷形骸化。“近世佛教堕落论”俨然成为不可争辩的历史事实。事实上,当我们聚焦日本近世佛教中的护法思想时,不难发现近世佛教促进了多元文化的融合,为日本佛教的近代化提供了先决条件。与此同时,“堕落论”作为日本近代宗教界、学术界重塑佛教的反面教材,发挥着警示、规范近代日本佛教未来发展方向的作用,具有重要的历史意义。

People’s cognition of Buddhism in the Edo period has inevitably been influenced by academic authorities such as Tsuj Zennosuke.It is believed that the Japanese monks were stealing and shackling,and Buddhism was deeply entrenched.“The theory of the fall of Buddhism in the Edo period”looked as an indisputable historical fact.In essence,Japanese religious and academic circles looked the“fallen theory”as a negative textbook in order to warn,improve,regulate the future development direction of modern Buddhism.The“fallen theory”has important historical significance.On the other hand,when we focus on the protection of Buddhism thought in the Edo period,it is not difficult to find that Buddhism in the Edo period promoted the popularization of Buddhism,promoted the integration of culture,provided a prerequisite for the modernization of Japanese Buddhism.