柳宗元与佛教关系的再思考

Reconsideration of the Relationship between LIU Zong-yuan and Buddhism

本文通过对唐代世风及柳宗元一生活动的考察,认为柳宗元与佛教徒交往,替他们撰写各种文字,都是带有非常明显的世俗功利目的的,是求自闻、求自适、助教化,而并非仅痴迷佛教教义、仪式,柳宗元好佛的目的主要是用佛。

This article aims to explore the very relationship between LIU Zongyuan and buddhism by examining his activities during his lifetime and the social conditions of Tang Dynasty. LIU Zongyuan kept contact with a lot of Buddhists and wrote something for them. The purpose is not just to be infatuated with creed and ceremony of buddhism, but to try to make himself known, to adapt himself to the society and to make buddhism widespread. In other words, the main purpose of his fondness for Buddhism is to make use of it.