동진시기 사문 단복에 대한 불교(佛敎)와 명교(名敎)의 인식 고찰 - 여산 혜원의 「사문단복론(沙門袒服論)」을 중심으로

Abstract

Since its introduction to China, Buddhism began to flourish in earnest during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Initially, Buddhism was perceived similarly to Huang-Lao (黃老), but as the religious order developed, Buddhism began to exert significant influence on Chinese thought, daily life, and customs. As Buddhism expanded, it inevitably came into conflict with traditional Chinese ideology. This tension became particularly evident during the Eastern Jin period in the 4th century. Specifically, the Buddhist stance that "monks do not pay homage to the emperor [沙門不敬王者]" was seen as violating traditional rites and customs, which created a significant challenge in political conflicts. At this time, monastic custom symbolized the distinctiveness and foreignness of Buddhism, along with the concept of paying homage. He Wuji (何無忌) raised concerns about the monastic custom of "baring the right shoulder [右肩偏袒]" from the perspective of Confucian orthodoxy. The controversy surrounding this attire, initiated by He Wuyi, was not merely a discussion of cultural differences associated with a foreign religion but also implied an underlying intention of the ruling authority to intervene in, or control, Buddhism. In response, Lushan Huiyuan (廬山慧遠) presented a robust argument in defense of the monastic custom of "baring the right shoulder". In his treatise Huiyuan discusses the practice of "baring the right shoulder" by relating it to the terms obeying [順] and opposing [逆], further distinguishing it from the Confucian world as the teaching of a religion "beyond the secular realm." Huiyuan's argument can be seen as an attempt to decode the meaning of the Indian monastic custom through its Sinicization, as well as an effort to uphold the autonomy of Buddhism beyond the jurisdiction of the royal law.