中国的末法思想与邺下刻经流布

Ideas of Dharma Ending Age and Spread and Distribution of Carved Buddhist Scriptures from Yexia

佛法住世可分为正法、像法及末法三个阶段。中国末法观念始兴于公元四世纪的东晋十六国时期,六世纪以后广为流行,并由此出现了大量的佛教刻经,形成了以邺城为中心的河北地区和以泰山为中心的山东地区两大刻经密集分布区域。北齐的刻经在形式和功能上不仅继承了早前彰显、诵读、禅观乃至修积功德等目的,更赋予其以护持佛法、保存经像、以备法灭的重要内涵。北齐刻经影响深远,无论是北京房山云居寺刻经、陕西淳化金川湾三阶教刻经以及四川都江堰刻经,都可发现邺下僧人的影响及末法思想的传承。

The Buddhadharma consists of three periods,the Proper Dharma Age,the Dharma Image Age,and the Dharma Ending Age.In China,the Dharma Ending Age began in the 4th century,a time when sixteen states and Eastern Jin existed,and it became widely accepted after the 6th century.As a result,the number of carved Buddhist scriptures surged,resulting in two major regions where such carved scriptures were densely distributed,one centering on Yecheng in Hebei district,and the other centering on Mount Tai in Shandong district.In terms of forms and functions,apart from still being used for displaying,reciting,meditation,and even for accumulating merits and virtues,carved scriptures of Northern Qi were more seen as the embodiment of preserving Buddhism,protecting Buddhist images,and a preparation for the Dharma Ending Age.The carved Buddhist scriptures were extremely influential.The ones in Yunju Temple(in Fangshan,Beijing),Dujiangyan(in Sichuan Province),and those sponsored by Sanjie Sect(in Jinchuanwan,Chunhua,Shaanxi Province)were all influenced by monks from Yexia,and they illustrated the inheritance and passing down of ideas concerning the Dharma Ending Age.