目连故事中国化的文化意义

On the Cultural Significance of the Chinese Secularized Story about Mahamaudgalyayana

在佛典中 ,目连是佛陀的十大弟子之一 ,其特点是神通第一。但到了中土世俗化的文学作品中 ,他却成了一个感人的孝子形象 ,甚至于名字也中国化了 ,即有了小名“罗卜”。他的家庭也被中国化了。这种变化表明 ,任何外来的宗教形象要想在中土广泛传播 ,都必须适应中土文化 ,融入中土文化。

As one of the Ten Famous Followers of the Buddha,Mahamaudgalyayana was characterized as the most magic and powerful arahat in the Buddhist Sutras. Comparatively,in the Chinese secularized works,Mahamaudgalyayana has not just been characterized as a filial son,but also hasbeen given a Chinese pet name Luobo (radish). These changes well prove that foreign religious images must adapt themselves to and mix with the native Chinese culture if they are to survive and grow.