互為他者的中國佛教史論述──八宗綱要對近代宗派佛教詮釋的影響

The Explanations in China and Japan of the Modern Buddhist Schools’Closely Interwove History Under the Influence of BAZONG-GANGYAO

日僧凝然（1240-1321）撰《八宗綱要》二卷，敘述佛教自印度流傳至中國，再由中國傳至日本的佛教宗派史，介紹了南都（奈良）六宗：三論、法相、華嚴、律、成實、俱舍；平安京（京都）二宗：天台及真言，另有附錄介紹宋朝時傳入日本的禪宗與淨土宗。書採問答體，介紹印度、中國及日本的佛法傳播源流。基本上這是一本簡明的中日宗派佛教史，自江戶時代（1603- 1867）以下，日本僧侶多以此書作為了解中國佛教的入門書。

 

此書為中國人所知則是在清末之時，楊仁山透過親友自日本購進大批流傳至日本的中國佛教典籍。楊仁山看到《八宗綱要》一書之後，開始撰文討論中國佛教宗派的問題，這是近代中國第一篇討論宗派問題的文章，此後，《八宗綱要》一書才廣為國人所知。

 

近代中日佛教交流之始，日本佛教團體列此書為必學教科書，以此書作為了解中國佛教的入門書。而此書條理清楚，對於宗派的發展演變都有一簡要的說明，這對於近代中國佛教的復興實大有參考的價值，民國初年的學者在撰寫中國佛教史時不乏參考此書，因此此書對於中國近代佛教論述的影響性亦不言可喻。

 

Gyounen (凝然, 1240-1321), a Japanese monk, wrote two volumes of Hasshu koyo (《八宗綱要》), edited in an question-and-answer way, to introduce how Buddhism went from India to China and then to Japan. In the books, Nantorikushu (南都六宗) and Heian ni shu (平安二宗) are discussed, with an appendix in which he also wrote about how Zenso (禪宗) and Jodo shu (淨土宗) in Sung Dynasty were transmitted into Japan. Basically, Hasshu koyo is a concise edition of China-Japan Buddhist Schools’ History. Since TOKUGAWA (德川) age, Hasshu koyo has become the fundamental book for Japanese to understand China Buddhism.

 

At the end of Quing Dynasty, Yang Ren-Shan (楊仁山), with the help from his relatives and friends, brought a large number of the books of China Buddhism, which have been passed to Japan. Hasshu koyo was one of the books he got at the time. After reading the book, Yang Ren-Shan started to write the essay to argue the questions of China Buddhism sects, which is viewed as the first paper of this field. And as a result, Hasshu koyo was widely known by China Scholars after then.

 

At the beginning of the interaction, Japan Buddhism groups set Hasshu koyo as the textbook to learn about China Buddhism History. And because of its conciseness in the development of the Buddhist schools, it should also have great value in studying the modern China Buddhism. As early as in the 1930s, there were scholars in China referring to Hasshu koyo to write the history of China Buddhism, and therefore it is no doubt that it has played a big role in the Buddhist debate in China now.