《茅蓬寺碑》的佛圖澄傳説與武鄉南山信仰景觀

Legend of Fo-tu-Cheng in the Stela of Maopeng Temple and Landscape of Beliefs in Wuxiang Southern Mountain

出土於武鄉南神山的《大唐重修茅蓬寺碑》爲《高僧傳》以外的高僧佛圖澄行迹提供了新的線索,其人可能在會面石勒以前即在武鄉地區傳道。但綜合分析當時的社會狀況,佛圖澄的武鄉傳説仍可能誕生於石趙政權穩定控制華北之後。此外,一直興盛至初唐的武鄉佛圖澄記憶卻在此後遭遇斷崖,消失於地方景觀與話語之外。其之所以遭遇“沉默與斷裂”,是因爲地方社會中的佛圖澄未能突出其傳説的功能特色,轉型爲與水相關的信仰,在缺水的武鄉信仰爭衡中取得優勢,也暴露出“紀念性偶像”相對“功能性信仰”在延續地方生命力時的弱勢。歷時觀察地方信仰生態可以爲中古地方研究提供更多的靈感與視角。

The Stela of“Rebuilding Maopeng Temple in Datang”unearthed in the Southern Mountain of Wuxiang provides new clues to the traces of Fo-tu-Cheng beyond the“Biography of Eminent Monks”,who may have preached in Wuxiang before meeting Shi-le.However,based on a comprehensive analysis of the social background at that time,the legend of Fo-tu-Cheng in Wuxiang may have been born after north China been stably controlled by Shizhao regime.In addition,the records of Fo-tu-Cheng in Wuxiang which have lasted until early Tang Dynasty disappeared from local landscape and discourse afterwards.The reason why it encountered such a vanishment was this memory failed to highlight its functional characteristics in local society,did not transformed into a idol related to water thus gaining an advantage in competition of beliefs in water-scarce Wuxiang.This has also exposed the weakness of a“memorial idol”extending its vitality comparing to a functional belief.Diachronic survey of regional beliefs can bring in more inspirations and perspectives for the study of early medieval China.