《道藏》所收早期道書的瘟疫觀——以《女青鬼律》及《洞淵神呪經》系為主

The Concept of Plague in the Early Taoist Texts, With Focus on Nu Ch’ing Kuei Lu and Tung Yaun Shen Chou Ching

在中國的歷史文化裏，對於瘟疫的發生、流行情況及其為害的事跡，自是醫學史家重要的研究課題。近代即有學者廣泛搜羅相關史料，試圖整理出歷代大疫與中國歷史的密切關係，其中間亦引述及民俗材料，借以解說中國民間社會的瘟疫觀。類此開拓性的工作持續地發展，自是有助於重建中國的流行病史，理解瘟疫對於民眾的深刻影響。由於瘟疫的流行性、獰猛性，因此在民俗習慣中確實形成諸多相應的信仰習俗，試圖以其素樸的思惟解說瘟疫的諸般狀況，因而自有其一套鬼神論的瘟疫觀，引起民俗學者的興趣。《道藏》即有一批道經，既是宗教、民俗史的史料，也是醫學思想的史料，不過這些珍貴的資料只有少數學者注意及此。惟其中確蘊含諸多值得深入挖掘的問題，就是行瘟與送瘟，此文將首先解說道教形成前有關瘟疫的語言、辭彙，反映出醫學的與鬼神論的不同理解。其次說明現存《道藏》經典中，在六朝的形成期所出現的對瘟疫思想的解說，從氣化論到神、魔對立的剋治論，並有齋法的諸般儀式。唐朝繼續發展的行瘟、送瘟說，進一步確定鬼神論的理念；而在宋元以後，由於政經的南移，江南的經營開發，促使送瘟的醮儀更加盛行於臨江、濱海的地區。類此逐疫、送瘟其實是古代儺文化的遺跡，道教吸納此一儺文化，而與民間習俗相互依存，形成中國的瘟疫觀。

There are various beliefs and rituals in Chinese folklores related to the advent and departure of epidemics (plagues, pestilence). The process through which these beliefs and rituals took shape was recorded and preserved in the early Taoist scriptures in the Tao-tsang, among which the Nu Ch'ing Kuei Lu and the Tung Yuan Shen Chou Ching stand out as especially important. All folk sayings today about plagues and epidemics, such as the belief that plagues are sent by heaven following inspection tours by intendants, developed during and since the Han and Chin dynasties. This belief, based on the Han theory of vapors (ch'i hua), holds that during an era of moral disorder heaven will punish the unrighteous by dispatching the Demon of Pestilence to poison the people. In early times then, the Ruler of Demons was none other than the Demon of Pestilence, whose mission was to lead lesser demons in spreading epidemics among humanity. The two texts under investigation advocate specific methods to get rid of an epidemic: belief in Taoism, the doing of good deeds, a vegetarian diet, and most importantly, a belief in the Taoist god San Mei T'ien Tsun. In the period from the beginning of the Six Dynasties to the T'ang Dynasty, The god San Mei T'ien Tsun wasn regarded as havins the abilitn to drive out the Demon of Pestilence and became an important god to be invoked in the ritual. In addition, we can see in various ceremonies the belief that correctly naming the demon of a particular epidemic may result in its’ banishment. Consequently, numerous names for pestilential demons can be found. Following the recitation of the demon's name, the Taoist god San Mei T'ien Tsun will come to the aid of the petitioners and drive the evil demon away. From these points we can see that early Taoist beliefs about epidemics have circulated continuously to present times, and are the chief source for today's folk beliefs.