唐玄宗注《金刚经》与唐朝三教合一政策的形成

Emperor Tang Xuanzong’s Annotations of the Diamond Sutra and the Formation of the Policy of the Syncretism of Three Religions in the Tang Dynasty

唐朝是中国历史上第一个实行儒、道、佛三教合一政策的朝代,其中唐玄宗起到了关键作用。在其执政后期,为了平衡知识界、宗教界的势力,稳固统治,更改了前期的抑佛崇道政策,转而三教并重。他更是亲注《孝经》《道德经》和《金刚经》作为对这一政策的确认。《御注金刚经》在开元二十三年最后颁布,这是唐玄宗拉拢佛教势力的关键一步,标志着三教合一政策的最终成形。虽然执政后期的唐玄宗做出诸多崇佛举措,但并不意味着他成为虔诚的佛教徒,反而更多是出于维持社会稳定的清醒政治考量。客观上,唐玄宗注《金刚经》的举动促使了《金刚经》在佛教中地位的升格、在社会中的影响扩大,促进了三教合一。

In Chinese history,the Tang Dynasty was the first one to implement the policy of unifying Confucianism,Taoism and Buddhism as one,and Emperor Tang Xuanzong played a key role in it.In the later ruling period of Emperor Tang Xuanzong,in order to balance the power of the intellectual and religious circles and to stabilize his rule,he changed the earlier policy of restraining Buddhism and advocating Taoism,and turned to attach equal importance to the three religions.He personally annotated Filial Piety,Tao Te Ching and the Diamond Sutra as his confirmation of this policy.Tang Emperor’s annotation of Diamond Sutra was finally releasd in the twenty-third year of Kaiyuan Period,which was a key step for Tang Xuanzong to win over the Buddhist forces,and marked the final formation of the policy of the syncretism of the three religions.Although Emperor Tang Xuanzong adopted many measures for worshippimg Buddhism in his later ruling period,it did not mean that he became a devout Buddhist,but more for the sober political considerations to maintain the social stability.Objectively speaking,Tang Xuanzong’s annotations of the Diamond Sutra promoted the upgrading of the status of the Diamond Sutra in Buddhism,expanded its influence in the society,and enhanced the syncretism of the three religions.