论晋中地区的空王佛信仰

Kongwang Buddha Faith in Jinzhong

以田志超为原型的空王佛信仰是山西地区特有的民间信仰之一。空王佛信仰自唐朝开始出现,至明清甚为流行。空王佛最初的主要职能是司雨,这一信仰以当地发达的农业传统为基础。随着明清时期山西商业的发展、市民阶层的兴起,空王佛信仰的功能也有所扩大,衍生出保佑生意兴隆等世俗意义上的功能。空王佛不同于那些于史无证的荒诞神怪,且田志超其人曾助力于当时的统治者,因此,空王佛信仰更易被统治阶层所接受并宣扬。空王佛信仰对推动基层社会的变迁起到了积极作用,精英阶层通过这一信仰实现对基层社会的治理,民众通过该信仰实现村落自我管理及村社间的交流互动。

The Kongwang Buddha faith,originated from the life stories of Monk Tian Zhichao,is one of the unique folk faiths in Shanxi.It has existed since the Tang dynasty,and become popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties.Due to a strong agricultural tradition in the region,the original Kongwang Buddha faith only focused on the matters in relation to rain.With the development of commerce and the rise of the citizen class of Shanxi in the Ming and Qing dynasties,the functions of the Kongwang Buddha faith extended to business and other secular areas.The Kongwang Buddha faith is different from those absurd gods and monsters which have no evidence in history.Moreover,Tian Zhichao had helped the rulers at that time.Therefore,the Kongwang Buddha faith is easier to be accepted and promoted by the ruling classes.In addition,the Kongwang Buddha faith has played a positive role in promoting the evolution of grass-roots society:the elite class uses the faith to govern the grass-root societies,and the people use the faith to manage their villages,and interact with other villages.