辽代民间组织邑社研究

A Study on the Civilian Associations of Yishe in the Liao Dynasty

辽代邑社是在当时佛教兴盛的背景下,以平民为主体自发结成的民间宗教组织。由于统治者对佛教的推崇以及对民间邑社的宽容态度,辽代邑社蓬勃发展,僧俗都可参与,“千人邑”成为邑社的代名词。邑社类型及活动内容多样,组织结构严密,上下分工明确。邑社促进了佛教文化的传播和寺院经济的发展,缓解了社会矛盾,有利于稳固统治者的地位,但也在一定程度上禁锢了邑人的思想,且耗费大量财力物力,导致寺院富而邑人穷,可能引发社会动乱。

Yishe are folk religious organizations spontaneously formed with civilians as the main body in the background of the prosperity of Buddhism in the Liao Dynasty.Owing to the rulers’admiration for Buddhism and their tolerant attitude towards civilian organizations,yishe in the Liao Dynasty flourished,with the participation of monks and folks.There are various types of yishe with various activities,strict organizational structures and clear divisions of labor.Yishe promote the spread of Buddhist culture and the economic development of temples,alleviate social conflicts and help to stabilize the position of rulers.However,to a certain extent,they also confine the mind of the members,consume a lot of financial and material resources,make temples rich and the members of yishe poor,and possibly lead to social instability.