眾生入佛國 神靈降人間——《冥祥記》的空間與慾望詮釋

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine and construct the cultural context of Wang Yan's 王琰 book MingXiang Ji《冥祥記》, major material of this paper, in the context of ”Works Support to Buddhism Doctrine” 釋氏輔教之書 during the Six Dynasties period in China. In order to analyze the inherent dialectical relationship exhibited between its thoughts and symbols, ideas and metaphors, the elite and the common, its reason and beliefs, certain texts in the book are intensively surveyed. In other words, the core motif of this paper is a study that repeatedly proves that the different spaces shown in Ming Xiang Ji are not just something based on what the author hears or imagines, but is symbolic spaces filled with various religious symbols and dialectics. These symbolic spaces are closely connected to the author's social status, political stance, social sources distribution he receives and many other various forms of desires. These elements will eventually be reconciled and realized in the realistic and historical space of the Six Dynasties period through the act of writing. If viewed from the analytical perspectives of the living reality, the salvation space and the nirvana realm, we see that the writing space in Ming Xiang Ji is not fixed or static. It does not just composes t a physical place where the living being exist and die, providing the people in the Six Dynasties with concretely historic and geographical significance, but also depicts the inherent enlightenment brought by religious experiences, the recognition of one's own desires, and the understanding of the process by which all things in the world gather and part. As a result, the author offers a reasonable interpretation of all the happenings in one's life by the concepts of reincarnation and karmic retribution. At the same time, the book also describes concrete religious practices such as Buddha worship, sutra chanting and stupa building to sacralize the present world that is filled with pain and suffering of all kinds. Through such religious practices, spirits and Buddha descend into this world; the light of wisdom is spread widely; the fear indwelling man's heart is turned into happiness, and the danger lurking in the dark is turned into peace. By such writing, the book advocates the Buddhist beliefs of the Pure Land 淨土, and promises the followers the Land of Bliss 樂土 in their future lives. Finally, Wang Yan also successfully defends himself in many religious debates by providing his audience these concrete and detail examples or writings on his subtle but palpable religious experiences.