중국불교의 금욕적 식법-『고승전』을 중심으로-

Abstract

This study how ascetic practice of eating such as inedia and other religious routines were appeared in early Chinese Buddhism, with a special focus on Gaoseng Zhuan(高僧傳 Biographies of Eminent Monks). It is an undeniable that this practice among Chinese Buddhists goes beyond the simple matter of consumption and is a serious religious practice consciously chosen by monks willing to practice asceticism. Moreover, Chinese Buddhists incorporated the following two currents into Chinese Buddhism: the existing traditions of “duangu”( 斷穀 stopping cereals) and “bigu”(辟穀 abstinence from cereals) and the tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. As a religious convention, the ascetic practice of eating is understood as cultural and is prevalent throughout the acceptance and development of Buddhism in China, and this is understood as cultural. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the meaning or goal of a practice method can be completely different depending on the philosophical background of those who accept it. Accordingly, this practice as a method may undergo some alterations in its meaning, goals, and even its very essence, depending on the historical, cultural, and geographical backgrounds of those who accept it. Gaoseng Zhuan shows the body-centeredness and a wide range of ascetic practice, in early Chinese Buddhism. In summary, this study examines the philosophical aspects of the ascetic practice of eating and other religious practices rigorously performed by monks in Gaoseng Zhuan in order to reveal that these religious practices were recognized, experienced, and expressed in various forms, especially through the monks’ bodies, during the early years of Chinese Buddhism.