佛教官寺与唐代边疆治理

The Buddhist State Monasteries and the Frontier Governance in the Tang Dynasty

边州是唐前期在边疆地区设立的特殊的州级政区,也是唐代边疆地区的重要组成部分。唐前期四次诏立佛教官寺的宗教政策在广大边州地区亦得到普遍执行。诸边州设立佛教官寺的形式,可分为以容州为代表的先后取代型和以沙州为代表的同时并存型。由于佛教官寺对普通民众开放,边州官寺所承担的政治象征与政治宣传功能,通过立寺、重修、宣讲、立碑、铸像、国忌行香等制度和仪式,发挥着不断塑造、强化和维系边疆官民对唐朝政治认同的作用。

Bianzhou(边州)was a special type prefecture in the frontier areas in early Tang Dynasty.Bianzhou was also an important component of the frontier areas in Tang Dynasty.The four religious policy of establishing Buddhist state monasteries in the early Tang Dynasty was also widely implemented in the Bianzhou region.The way of establishing Buddhist state monasteries following the four Imperial Edicts in Bianzhou can be divided into two types,the successive replacement type(represented by Rongzhou)and the simultaneous coexistence type(represented by Shazhou).Due to openness to the general public,the special functions of the state monasteries in the frontier areas,by establishing and renovating the monasteries,preaching scriptures,erecting monuments,casting statues,and the state sacrifice ceremonies,it continuously shaped,strengthened,and maintained the political identification of frontier officials and people towards the Tang Dynasty.