茅山道士王远知生平与历史影响探赜

A Study of the Maoshan Daoist Master Wang Yuanzhi’s Life and Historical Influence

茅山道士王远知历梁、陈两时期和隋、唐两朝,与多位君主交往密切,死后获得李唐朝廷反复封赠。通过对现有材料的重新梳理,可进一步补充和细化有关此人生平和道学情况的学术认识。同时,对这些材料的分析亦将指出,凭借生前积累的声望和死后弟子们的积极运作,王远知在羽化之后仍在社会层面产生持续而深远的影响,并由此演化出种种仙话传说。对茅山道士王远知生平和历史影响的探析,呈现出中古时期以著名道士为中心展开的教团与政治和社会密切互动的历史剖面。

Wang Yuanzhi was a well-known Daoist master from Maoshan.He lived through the Liang and Chen Period,Sui and Tang Dynasties and had close relations with several Emperors.After his death,Wang repeatedly obtained honorific title from Tang rules.By re-study the existing materials about him,we can improve the understanding of Wang’s life and Daoist thought.Meanwhile,we can also see Wang continued to keep the profound influence on society after his death and some immortal legends about him were created.This phenomenon both thanked to Wang’s good reputation and his disciples’active operation.The detailed analysis on Wang’s life and historical influence presents a historical profile of the close interaction between a religious group and profane officials centered on a famous Daoist priest in the medieval period.