关于妈祖与佛教观音菩萨融合的历史考证

Historical Research on the Integration of Mazu and Buddhist Guanyin Bodhisattva

妈祖文化富含佛教文化元素,主要表现为妈祖与佛教观音菩萨的融合。通过文献记载可以考证,至少自元代起妈祖就被视为是观音菩萨的化身之一,此说甚至流传到日本。妈祖与观音融合的外在原因是神职相近,因为妈祖的主要神职为“航海守护神”,而观音的神职之一是“慈航普度”。妈祖与观音能够融合的内在原因是神性相通,其中妈祖与观音共同的神性即是慈悲思想。妈祖文化的发展离不开佛教思想的积极作用,妈祖与观音的融合是佛教文化吸纳妈祖文化的过程,也是妈祖文化摄取佛教思想并丰富了文化内涵的过程,证明妈祖文化与佛教文化具有互融互摄的深刻联系。

Mazu culture is rich in Buddhist cultural elements,mainly manifested in the integration of Mazu and Buddhist Guanyin Bodhisattva.According to the documentary records,Mazu has been regarded as one of the incarnations of Guanyin Bodhisattva since Yuan Dynasty,and this theory has even spread to Japan.The external reason for the integration of Mazu and Guanyin is that the clergy,for Mazu's main duty is"navigation patron saint",as well as one of Guanyin's duties The internal reason for the integration of Mazu and Guanyin is the connection of divinity,and the common divinity of Mazu and Guanyin is the thought of compassion.The development of Mazu culture is inseparable from the positive role of Buddhist thought.The integration of Mazu and Guanyin is not only the process of Buddhist culture absorbing Mazu culture,but also the process of Mazu culture absorbing Buddhist thought and enriching cultural connotation,which proves that Mazu culture and Buddhist culture have a profound relationship of mutual integration and absorption.