明昆明太華寺供奉沐氏十二世像之歷史意義

The Historical Significance Behind the Worship of Mu's(沐氏) Ancestors in Taiwha (太華) Temple at Ming's Kunming (昆明) city

雲南昆明城西太華寺，於元大德十年(1306)，由元朝梁王出資為當時高僧玄鑑無照禪師所興建成的一座寺院，在元朝擁有相當厚實的政治地位。進入明朝後，沐英家族歷代世襲鎮守雲南，沐英為穩固剛平定不久的雲南社會秩序，試圖藉助佛教發揮「遷善去惡」的社會教化功能，以輔助其治理雲南之功，於是賦予太華寺此一重責，並且特為此寺〈題太華山佛岩禪寺文〉，隨即撥款修寺。遂使太華寺源自元朝的優渥政治資源得以順利繼承，使往後的發展更加蓬勃。景泰六年(1455)太華寺住持日僧大用（係日本僧人，謫居雲南）唯恐日久文滅，故建思召堂以奉沐英〈題太華山佛岩禪寺文〉，藉此感懷沐英恩德。

Taiwha (太華) temple was constructed officially at west Kunming (昆明) , Yunnan (雲南) in Yuan dynasty (A.D.1306) and had a profound connection with the Empire. Into the Ming dynasty, Mu's (沐氏) family civilized the local people by the religious power of the stated temple, and the temple therefore inherited the ample financial support and political resource. In 1455 A.D., Taiwha temple began to worship Mu's ancestors to intensify the political connection and to ensure the official support. The unusual relationship between Taiwha temple and Mu's family was reconsidered and debated during Chenglong (乾隆) period, Ching dynasty. Finally, the government made the decision; Mu's ancestors were then continuously worshiped by Taiwha temple. The judgment revealed the irreplaccable and unchangeable impact of Mu's family on Yunnan district.