唐代 葬祭 습속과 ‘家寺’

Abstract

This paper aims at checking with the Buddhist temples ruled by family in Tang China. The Buddhist custom of the deceased in Tang China were prevailed, even though Tang court was trying to regulate its practice. The will of premier Yaochong's simpler funeral rites came from this overheated the Buddhist custom. However, imperial family devoted itself into Buddhist funeral ceremonies, and founded their temples. Moreover, they used them as worshiping their ancestral rites. Some of high rank officials followed imperial family. Some of temples even received Tang court's support or, at least its official permit. The function of Buddhist temples didn't limited as the praying place of ancestors' happiness in the other world, but also developed into temporary or permanent burial sites. Buried in homeland was the elites’s wish. However, sometimes their wish was unfulfilled, because of many difficulties like living far away from the homeland. The officials had to go around many places to serve their post. The bereaved family had no chance but buried the deceased near their living house. So they used the Buddhist temple as burial site. As time goes on, the temporary burial site became permanent, the temple managed the tomb. So the descendant regularly visited the temple where their ancestor were buried to pray them. After Anshi rebellion, the Tang dynasty's central power began to weaken. So the social class of Tanyue, the donor of the temple, was gradually expanded such as men of military influence, the local elites, and local landowners. They founded temples as ancestral shrine. It was no wonder that the relationship between Tanyue and the temple was very close and it was often shown in gazetteer. Though the gazetteer was not highly reliable materials, but it doesn't mean they are denied totally. In conclusion, the temples in Tang China functioned as praying for the deceased's happiness, the burial sites, even ancestral shrine under the Buddhist custom of the deceased. With these functions, the temple came into close relations with the donors and donors' descendant. This kind of temples in Tang China were the origin of Fensi(墳寺) in Song China, I want to name it Jiasi(家寺) in Tang China.