浅析盂兰盆会在中国的民俗化

释教节日盂兰盆会古印度本无,是中国汉传佛教徒据《佛说盂兰盆经》而建成的"救拔父母"度七世父母的一种法会,在中国本土文化冲击下,深受儒、道、俗的影响,孟兰盆会由庄重肃穆的佛教行仪日益演变成中国的一大民间节日。由"斋僧"到"荐亡",由寺院到民间,在其民俗化进程中传载着中国传统的思想和文化。

The Secularized Buddhist Ghost Festival in China

The Buddhist Ghost Festival (on the 15th of the seventh lunar month ) , was held on the grounds ofThe Ullambana Sutra Preached by Buddha by Chinese buddhists as a religious ceremony to help parents free from sufferings. The festival had gradually developed from the solemn buddhist rite to a secularized festival due to the infiltration of Confucianism, Taoism and social customs. Giving food to buddhist monks had been replaced by offering sacrifices to the dead. Other public places, rather than temples had been used for holding the ceremony. Some traditional Chinese thoughts and culture were passed on during its secularization.