“释教歌”之兴盛与日本平安时代的文化背景

On the Cultural Background of the Prosperity of“Buddhist Songs”in the Heian Era of Japan

“释教歌”是佛教与诗歌的完美结合,在日本文学史上独树一帜。它滥觞于奈良时代,兴盛于平安时代,成熟于镰仓时代。它不仅是日本文学史上的一朵奇葩,在日本佛教史上也占有重要的地位。佛教大昌为“释教歌”的产生创造了必要条件,“狂言绮语观”为“释教歌”的兴盛扫清了思想障碍,出家隐遁歌人成为“释教歌”的创作主体,和歌的中兴与和歌理论的发展丰富了“释教歌”的创作手法。这是“释教歌”兴盛于平安时代的主要原因。

“Buddhist Songs”,which are the perfect combination of Buddhism and poetry,are unique in the history of Japanese literature.They originated in the Nara period,flourished in the Heian period,and matured in the Kamakura period.They are not only the wonders in the history of Japanese literature,but also play an important role in the history of Japanese Buddhism.The main reasons why“Buddhist Songs”flourished in the Heian era are as follows:(1)the prosperity of Buddhism provided necessary conditions for the creation of“Buddhist Songs”;(2)“the view of wild words and flowery expressions”cleared the way for the prosperity of“Buddhist Songs”;(3)the monastic reclusive singers became the creative subject of“Buddhist Songs”;(4)the resurgence of Japanese Waka and the development of its theory enriched the creation techniques of“Buddhist Songs”.