송대 불교식 사자의례(死者儀禮)에 대한 고찰

Abstract

Many intellectuals of the Southern Song period have criticized the practices of Buddhist funerals. However, such frequent criticisms imply that these funeral rites were extensively accepted across all social strata. This study first considers the historical background and reasons for the proliferation of Buddhist funeral rites during the Southern Song. Subsequently, it analyzes the cases of Buddhist rites for the beings of water and land (水陸 齋), which were performed to appease the grudges of the dead. These stories are introduced in Yijian zhi (or the Record of the Listener, 夷堅志) by Hong Mai (洪邁, 1123-1202). This analysis focuses on the concept of Hell and the relationship between the living and dead. The implication of the spread of Buddhist funeral rites is not limited to simply the rules of Li (禮) and formality. We must note that the idea of caring for the dead could not be realized without performing Buddhist funeral rites. If funeral rites for the dead can be understood as a religious soteriological system, it should be noted that two types of movements, that is, collectivity and individuality or the salvation of the deceased who are intimate and that of the deceased who are suffering, have a complex and dynamic relationship. In Chinese tradition, soothing the grudges of the dead who are dissatisfied, especially, appeasing the malicious spirits (厲鬼) and lonely ghosts (孤魂) who easily become discontented, has long been considered important. Moreover, the concept of Hell, itself, and the notion of pain of the departed soul in the underworld must be examined. Perhaps, the Buddhist funeral rites prevalent during the Southern Song period provided a solution to an important concern among the laypeople, that is, the liberation of departed souls from suffering and discontent.