布发掩泥的北齐皇帝:中古燃灯佛授记的政治意涵

The Northern Qi Emperor Who Spread His Hair on Muddy Ground:The Political Implications of the Buddha Dīpamkara Vyākarana in China’s Middle Antiquity

中古时期的一个重要时代特征,是佛教带来了新的文化基因。佛教的传入,不但重塑中土信仰世界,而且带来新的政治意识形态,对政治理念和政治实践都产生了重要影响。在宗教思想弥漫的中古时代,政治史的面貌也因此呈现出丰富的面相。北齐文宣帝高洋视高僧法上为佛,模拟燃灯佛授记的场面,布发于地,让法上踩之,通过这样的仪式,塑造自己佛教转轮王的身份,从信仰和政治的双重维度加强统治的神圣性。燃灯佛授记在佛教信仰体系中居于极为特殊的地位,带有明确的宗教和政治意涵。其发源于犍陀罗地区,在印度本土罕见,却在中国中古政治和信仰世界里成为一个重要的信仰主题和政治理念。这一方面说明中古政治文化的复杂性,另一方面也反映了中国文明具有世界主义的开放性和包容性——这也是中国文明能够长盛不衰的重要原因。

An important feature of China’s middle antiquity period was the new cultural genes brought by Buddhism.The introduction of Buddhism not only reshaped the world of beliefs in China,but also brought new political ideologies which had an important impact on political ideas and practices.The era was permeated by religious thought that enriched political history.In imitation of the Buddha Dīpamkara Vyākarana,Emperor Wenxuan of the Northern Qi Dynasty spread his hair on muddy ground and had Monk Fashang,whom he considered to be a previous Buddha life,tread on it.In so doing,the emperor claimed the role of Chakravartin,the ideal Buddhist ruler,with a view to strengthening the political and religious dimensions of his sacred rule.The Dīpamkara Vyākarana played a special role in the Buddhist religious system and contained significant religious and political meanings.Originating in the Gandhara area and rarely found in India,in China it became an important religious theme and political idea in middle antiquity.On the one hand,this illustrates the complexity of the political culture of the times;on the other,it reflects the cosmopolitan openness and tolerance of Chinese civilization,which is another important reason for its longevity.