唐代 官人의 佛經 傳播와 役割

Abstract

During the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism permeated secular society, influencing various aspects such as politics, literature, and culture. The initial phase of Buddhism's integration into the secular realm commenced with the translation of Buddhist scriptures. The imperial family of the Tang Dynasty spearheaded this translation project, disseminating a substantial volume of translated scriptures through oral communication, the transcription of Buddhist scriptures, as well as through buying and selling them. In this process, Tang officials, belonging to the elite intellectual class, assumed a public role within the imperial family. They played a pivotal part in spreading Buddhist scriptures and were instrumental in the populace's acceptance and subsequent dissemination of these scriptures. Generally, the officials of the Tang Dynasty were primarily responsible for proofreading and acting as Guardian Ambassadors (監護大使). On a personal level, certain officials engaged in interactions with monks, supporting the compilation of commentaries on Buddhist scriptures. Additionally, they personally wrote commentaries on Buddhist scriptures and even authored works such as the Diamond Sutra Lingyan-ji (『金剛經』靈驗記). Additionally, Tang officials played a role in copying Buddhist scriptures or sutras for personal use, and officials like the Jiedushi (節度使) prayed for the well being of the emperor or high ranking officials, as well as the stability of the region. The fundamental objectives of family peace and the restoration of ancestors were also expressed through the use of Buddhist scriptures, combining Buddhist post world views with Confucian filial piety. Their leading role significantly contributed to the widespread dissemination of Buddhist scriptures in basic society, exerting a profound influence on preserving a substantial collection of these scriptures.