《夷坚志》与南宋江南密宗信仰

密宗作大乘佛教的一个派别传入中国 ,经过一个相当复杂的发展过程 ,在唐代开元年间鼎盛一时 ,受到最高统治者的青睐。许多学者认为 :由于密宗与中国传统的伦理观念存在着根本性的冲突 ,它在开元之后不久 ,很快就夭折了。其实 ,这并不符合实际情况。密宗并没有因为武宗灭佛而消亡 ,它在民间依然拥有大量的信徒 ,时至宋代依然如此 ,特别是在江南则更为兴盛 ,洪迈《夷坚志》对此多有记载

Yi Jian Zhi and Mi Sect Belief in Regions South of the Yangtze in Bei Song

The Mi Sect, introduced into China as a faction of Mahayana, reaches a period of prime after a complicated development and finds favour in the eyes of the supreme rulers. Many scholars believe that, due to the basic conflict between Mi Sect and traditional Chinese ethical concepts, it comes to an early end soon after the Kaiyuan Years. This standpoint does not accord with the fact. The Mi Sect does not die out because Wu Zong exterminates Buddhism. Instead, it has a lot of followers among the people, which is true till in the Song Dynasty, especially in the regions south of the Yangtze, of which Yi Jian Zhi by Hong Mai has adequate accounts.