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On the upsurge of Chinese and foreign monks seeking dharma at sea in Tang Dynasty

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Author: Zhang Jing [2001-7-6 9: 31:23]

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The Tang Dynasty was not only very powerful politically, economically and militarily, but also developed rapidly in religion. Devout monks traveled across the ocean to promote Buddhism. Their fearless spirit of struggle and outstanding cultural achievements have written a glorious chapter in world history.

The route to India in the Tang Dynasty was divided into land and sea. The westbound route from Chang 'an to North India via Gansu, Xinjiang and Central Asia is the most important traffic route since the Han Dynasty. The other is the opening of the Sino-Indian Tibet Road to India via Nepal in the early Tang Dynasty. The sea route is from Guangzhou and Jiaozhi (near Hanoi, Vietnam) to India via the South China Sea. With the development of southern economy in Tang Dynasty, especially the prosperity of maritime trade, since the Emperor Gaozong, most monks who went to India to study were attached to ships at sea. "Buddhism and Taoism are long-term, and it is hard to get it." (Note: Biography of Song Monks, volume 1 1, 247 pages, Zhonghua Book Company, 1987. In the Tang Dynasty, devout believers braved many difficulties and went to Wutianzhu to worship the holy land in batches, covering India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan and other countries and regions. According to the book Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of Datang, there were dozens of monks who went to India by sea at that time, including Bing Chang @ ① and his disciples, Yizhou Mingyuan, Yilang, Huining, Luoyang Tanrun, Zhihong, Jingzhou Tanguang, Daolin, Huiming, Wuxing, Fazhen and Chengwu. In 67 1 year (the second year of Emperor Gaozong Xianheng), Yijing and his disciple Xing Shan sailed south from Guangzhou on a Persian ship and traveled to more than 30 countries. They returned to the Tang Dynasty in 695 (the year of Zheng Shengyuan). During the Book of Changes in Sri Lanka (now southeast of Sumatra, Indonesia), other monks, such as Gu Zhen, Wye, Daohong and Farang, took a boat from Guangzhou to Sri Lanka to help the Book of Changes translate the Scriptures. After the Book of Changes returned to China, Huiri envied the feat of the Book of Changes and went to India by boat to visit Brahma. In the Tang Dynasty, a monk traveled across the ocean to Japan to preach the Dharma. Jian Zhen, a Buddhist monk, traveled across the ocean to Japan to preach Buddhism because of the entreaties of Rong Rui, a Japanese monk, and was warmly welcomed by the Japanese ruling and opposition parties.

At the same time, the prosperity of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty attracted monks from Asian countries, and monks from Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and other countries came from the sea in an endless stream. There are many monks of different nationalities active in the land of the Tang Dynasty. In the sixth year of Yonghui (655), Samananati of Zhongtianzhu arrived in Chang 'an with more than 500 pods and 1500 volumes of Buddhist scriptures, and was ordered to translate them in Gyangji. In the seventh year of Kaiyuan, South Indian monk King Kong Zhi and his disciples arrived in Guangzhou by sea and were welcomed to Chang 'an Hongchuan Yoga Tantric Sect. And the wisdom of the northern Indian shaman (like Brahma's name). I heard that there was a Manjusri Bodhisattva in Wutai Mountain, China, so I pointed to the east with tin. When I was near Guangzhou, the ship was blown back by the strong wind. He rebuilt the ship and finally arrived in Panyu in the second year of Jian Zhong (AD 78 1). Monks from all over the world live in temples in Chang 'an, Tang Dou. Ren Yuan, a Japanese Buddhist monk who entered the Tang Dynasty, met monks from Tianzhu, Japan, Silla, Lion (now Sri Lanka) and other countries in Beijing (note: The Story of the Lotus in the Tang Dynasty, Volume III, page 159, Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1986). )。 Many cities and religious shrines in the Tang Dynasty were inhabited by foreign monks, and there were many temples named after the country, such as Silla Temple and Tianzhu Temple.

Tianzhu Temple in Hangzhou is a world-famous temple.

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, China had a very close relationship with its neighbors, North Korea and Japan. In the Tang Dynasty, a large number of monks from both countries came to study, most of them from North Korea. According to Yan Gengwang's "Students and Disciples of the Tang Dynasty in Silla" (quoted from Yan Gengwang's "Tang Shi Studies Series"), there are more than 30 Tang Priests/Kloc-0 in Silla, and the actual number is much larger than this figure. In novels, notes and poems in the Tang Dynasty, we can often see records about Silla monks and Korean monks, and "Korean monks" are even used as allegories. In the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty, Zuo Taitai called you Taitai a "Korean monk". "It is said that Sui and Han monks drive fast, but they don't want to sigh, and their diet is influenced by @ ③. Laughing in the palm of your hand, he has nothing to impeach in Beijing, and his salary is the same. " (Note: Tai Ping Guang Ji (Volume 254), the article On the History of Taiwan Province Empire, page 1973, Zhonghua Book Company, year 196 1. ) Silla monks mostly came to Tang by sea, abandoned ships and landed in Yangzhou, Dengzhou and Chuzhou, and many Silla monks gathered in this area. Jiuhua Mountain has developed into a famous Buddhist shrine in China, which is closely related to these Silla monks. Prince Jin of Silla went to Chiyang Jiuzishan (now Jiuhuashan, Anhui Province) to practice asceticism, and was honored as a Tibetan Bodhisattva by the local people, and a temple was built for him. "Silla monks learned that the rate is to cross the sea and ask for help, and there are many disciples." (Note: Biography of Song Monks, Volume 20, Page 5 16, Zhonghua Book Company 1987. ) Jiuhua Mountain has gradually developed into a major religious shrine.

During the Tugu Dynasty, Regent Shoto Kutaishi strongly advocated Buddhism. In 608, Gao Xiang and other four monks, such as Mí n @ ④, Qing 'an, Yin Hui and Guangqi, were sent to seek the Dharma. Later, Lingyun and Huiyun came to study Buddhism. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Japanese monks came to China in an endless stream, including Fu Liang, Zhizang, Daoci, Daozhao, Tongzhi, Zhitong and Xuanf m ng @ ⑤. Among them, the most famous are the "Eight Schools of the Tang Dynasty"-the clearest, the empty sea, the round benevolence, the round treasure, the long whistling, the round traveling, the wisdom and the Zong Rui. They sought a large number of classics and cultural relics to return to China and made important contributions to the development of ancient Japanese culture.

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The upsurge of seeking Buddhism in Tang Dynasty has its profound social background and is closely related to the economic and cultural development of the whole Asian region.

First of all, it is closely related to the rapid development of Buddhism in China and Asia. Indian Buddhism reached its peak in the 7th and 8th centuries and spread widely in South Asia and Southeast Asia, with more and more followers. In China, Buddhism has experienced hundreds of years of development and entered its heyday. There are many temples, monks and nuns, and Buddhism is widely spread in all walks of life. However, the development of Buddhism faces certain difficulties. On the one hand, due to translation problems, many Buddhist scriptures introduced since the Wei and Jin Dynasties are confusing in meaning and full of loopholes, which has caused some confusion in the Buddhist community. On the other hand, some shamans ignore the precepts and are riddled with scandals. In order to spread Buddhism, Shaman Xuanzang generously traveled westward during the Zhenguan period and went to the Buddhist country to seek the "true scriptures". Other shamans followed suit and went west for advice. In the early Tang Dynasty, various sects in China gradually formed and spread to neighboring countries, which had a far-reaching impact on the development of Buddhism in Korea, Japan and other countries and attracted monks from all over the world.

Secondly, the political and military strength and economic and cultural prosperity of the Tang Dynasty provided a solid material foundation and extremely favorable social environment for the religious activities of monks. China in the Tang Dynasty was undoubtedly one of the most powerful and prosperous empires in the world at that time, with frequent diplomatic exchanges with Asian countries. North Korea and Funan (now Mekong Delta) are its subordinate countries, and its sphere of influence is as far as Central Asia, and the whole Asian region is influenced by its politics and culture. As the Book of Changes said, "A country where chickens are as valuable as elephants is a country full of suffering. Jinling, the hometown of Yuling, voted for the city. " (Note: Biography of South China Sea Returning to China, volume 1, page 22, Zhonghua Book Company 1995. After Xuanzang returned from India, the above table said, "Those who smell high winds will build Tianchi not far away;" It is not difficult for dragon boat riders to wade in the river waves. Your majesty is self-sustaining, and the four seas are clear, Delong District 9, Renbei District 8, Chunfan Yanjing South and Shengwei Town Qingji. Therefore, Chief Yi Rong, whenever he sees the bird of Yun Xiang flying from the east, he hesitates whether to send it to the countryside, and he bows to it. In fact, Xuanzang is round and square, and he is also a parent. Since he relies on Tianwei, it is not difficult to get there. " (Note: The biography of Master Sanzang, Volume 6, Page 126, Zhonghua Book Company 1983. )

Furthermore, the development of maritime trade in Asia and the progress of navigation technology, especially in the Tang Dynasty, provided convenient transportation conditions for the spread of Buddhism at sea. At the beginning of Tang Dynasty, maritime transportation had a certain scale, and it was more developed in Kaiyuan period. Foreign trade cities such as Quanzhou, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Yangzhou along the southern coast of China have developed rapidly, and Yangzhou has surpassed Luoyang and Chang 'an to become the most prosperous commercial city in China. The scale of maritime trade with neighboring countries has gradually surpassed the onshore Silk Road, and the transportation between China and foreign countries is unprecedentedly developed. Spices, medicinal materials and peppers from Asian countries are continuously imported by sea, while China's porcelain, tea and silk are exported to many countries, especially porcelain, which has opened up a broad market overseas. Modern archaeologists have unearthed porcelain produced in the Tang Dynasty in Japan, Korea, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Iran, Iraq and many places in Africa. The economic exchange between China and * * * is unprecedented. Yangzhou and Guangzhou are inhabited by a large number of Persian businessmen, and Persians and cannibals do business in other cities. There are South China Sea ships, Persian ships, Lion ships, Jiaotoe ships, Kunlun ships, Western Regions ships and Japanese ships stationed in coastal cities. In 748 AD, Jian Zhen, a great monk in the Tang Dynasty, took his disciples to Japan for the fifth time. As a result, it was drifted to Hainan Island in a storm and returned to Guangzhou in the north. He saw that the nearby river was full of ships from Brahmins, Persians, Kunlun and other countries, and there were countless ships (note: the story of the great monk's eastward crossing in the Tang Dynasty, page 74, Zhonghua Book Company 1979. )。 The prosperity of commerce and maritime trade and the progress of shipbuilding and navigation have provided unprecedented convenience for monks from all over the world.

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Monks seeking Dharma are not afraid of difficulties and obstacles, and they spread Dharma not far from Wan Li, making great contributions to the economic and cultural exchanges and development in Asia.

The activities of seeking dharma greatly promoted the development of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty and the cultural exchanges among Asian countries. Monks from China and Vatican brought back a lot of classics from India and carried out arduous translation activities, which laid the foundation for the establishment of various sects and the prosperity of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty. The Book of Changes is an influential figure in the history of Buddhism in China. He studied in India for many years, brought back nearly 400 Sanskrit books and organized translation activities. He, Faxian in Jin Dynasty and Xuanzang in Tang Dynasty were called the three great monks seeking dharma, and made great achievements. Huiri is another famous Buddhist monk. After returning to China, he made great efforts to promote the Buddhism of Pure Land Sect, and was named "Sanzang", which made important contributions to the development of Pure Land Sect. Indian monks who came to China played an important role in the development of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty. During Xuanzong period, the "Three Masters of Kaiyuan" (Xumituo Buddha, King Kong Zhi and Bukong) came to Chang 'an one after another, and China gradually formed a complete tantric school. In the fourth year of Kaiyuan, Subhakara simha, a monk from China and India, first arrived in Chang 'an and began to formally teach esoteric Buddhism. Four years later, the South Indian monk King Kong Zhi and his disciples came to China, and King Kong Zhi was honored as a famous Buddhist teacher in the Tang Dynasty. After the death of King Kongzhi, on the orders of the imperial court, he led 37 disciples to board the Kunlun ship and set off for the lion country to send credentials and learn esoteric religion. A few years later, Bukong returned to Chang 'an with a large number of Buddhist scriptures and gifts from the lion kingdom to the Tang Dynasty, which was widely respected by people in the ruling and opposition circles in Beijing and Beijing.

Seeking dharma is of great significance to the cultural development of Japan, Korea and other countries. Monks who came across the ocean to seek dharma introduced various schools of Buddhism in China to neighboring countries in the East, and Dharma, Huayan, Legalism, Tantra and Tiantai developed rapidly in Silla, Japan and other countries. The spread of religion also promotes the spread of culture. Monks who came to China to seek dharma have studied in China for many years, and have comprehensively studied China's advanced culture, which has played a positive role in the development of their own culture after returning home. After returning to China, Japanese monks created Hiragana with reference to Chinese characters, and set up an "acrobatic school" to teach China various skills. Jian Zhen, a monk in the Tang Dynasty, not only became the founder of Japanese Legalists, but also contributed to the development of Nara culture, and had a certain position in the history of Buddhism, architecture, medicine and wood carving in Japan.

Buddhist monks studying in India are not afraid of sacrifice and work hard, which has written a glorious page in human history. Monks seeking dharma are also great explorers in ancient history. They traveled as far away as Guangzhou, Jiaodong or Yangzhou, and traveled all over Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Japan, North Korea and other countries and regions. Due to hunger, the threat of waves, and the scourge of thieves and beasts, most monks who traveled across the ocean to seek dharma failed to return home. Chang @ ①, a monk from Bingzhou, and his disciple "Ji Yuan goes to the west, and the gift is the Buddha's holy relic" went from Jiangbiao to Luoyu (now Sumatra, Indonesia) at the end of the year, and then took a boat to India. Before the mystery was solved, Cang Bo suddenly arose and often died with his disciples (Note: Biography of the Great Monk Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of Datang, 5 1 page. )。 Tang Priest Zhi 'an, Peeping Chong, Mu Cha Tipo, Zhixing, Mahayana Lamp, the other shore, Tan Run, Yi Hui, Wuxing, Fazheng and Chengwu all died in a foreign land on their way to seeking Dharma. The famous Buddhist monk in the Tang Dynasty, the Book of Changes, generously wrote a poem, "I have done tens of thousands of things and am full of worries." The teacher was six feet tall and walked alone for five days. "He also said," the general can be a teacher, but one's ambition cannot be changed. If you cherish the short life, you can't pray for it. " (Note: Biography of the Great Monks in the Western Regions of Datang, Volume 15 1, Zhonghua Book Company 1988. )

Mr. Lu Xun highly praised the spirit of these Buddhist monks: "Since ancient times, we have had people who are hardworking, hard-working, doing harm for the people, and dying for the law ... Although it is the so-called" official history "of the imperial genealogy, it often cannot hide their glory. This is the backbone of China. " (Note: Selected Works of Lu Xun, Volume IV, Essays on Jie Jie Ting, page 62, People's Literature Publishing House, 1983. ) "A bowl of rice, traveling alone in Wan Li", monks make the four seas their home and taste the joys and sorrows of the world.

Unlike Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, monks seeking dharma did not have the strong support of the national treasury or the strong fleet as the backing, but only embarked on a long and arduous journey with the courage to devote themselves to dharma. During the long journey of seeking dharma, they studied the cultures of various countries in depth and carefully, and extensively investigated the historical geography and local customs of various places, leaving behind many valuable works, such as The Book of Changes, Biography of Great Monks Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of Datang, Biography of the Law in the South China Sea, Biography of the Buddhist Monk in Silla, Biography of the Great Monk of Datang Going East by Japanese Yuan Kai, and Ren Yuan's Trip to Datang, etc. After studying in India for many years, Tang Priest, who traveled to the Buddhist countries, had a deep understanding of the political and economic situation and customs of Wutianzhu, was respected by many monarchs in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and forged a profound friendship with people of various countries, which greatly promoted political and cultural exchanges between countries.

The navigation activities of Buddhist monks not only deepened China people's understanding of South Asia and Southeast Asia, but also had great significance for the development of Chinese and foreign transportation and the further development of the navigation industry. In A.D. 1405, after studying in India for hundreds of years, Zheng He, a famous navigator, led a huge Ming fleet and embarked on a great voyage. Following the footsteps of Buddhist monks at sea in the Tang Dynasty, they went south to Southeast Asia and South Asia and continued to sail to the Persian Gulf and the east coast of Africa for visits and trade, creating a maritime feat that shocked the world.

Editor Xiao Bo.

Notes about words not stored in fonts:

@ ① The original words are "adding heart under sensitivity"

@ ② The original characters are traditional Chinese characters.

@ ③ The original word is Bei You Jiaxin.

@ (4) The original text is Gawaine at sunset.

@ ⑤ The original word is Japanese friend Fang Jia.

(Originally published in the 4th issue of Jiangsu Social Sciences 1999, the author is a lecturer in the Department of Social History of Nanjing Normal University with a master's degree in history).