敦煌莫高窟悉達太子降魔佛畫故事析探

The Vanquishing Mara Story Research of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes

釋迦牟尼修道成佛的過程中，悉達太子降伏魔眾是極其關鍵的部分。尊貴富裕物質生活的誘惑與對於愛戀嗔癡的執著，在在是阻撓釋迦牟尼虔心修道的最大也最難以克服的障礙，佛經故事中藉有形的魔眾來比擬無形的心魔，當釋迦牟尼戰勝魔眾，便代表其已超脫世俗的種種慾念，鍛鍊出無堅不摧的意志，向成佛之路邁出最重要的一步。北魏第254窟的「悉達太子降魔故事畫」是敦煌莫高窟中最早，也最生動的佛傳故事畫，《敦煌藝術之最》譽之為「莫高窟最完美的單幅佛傳故事畫」。茲就悉達太子生平、佛畫故事內容、依據及其與中國文學的關係等諸方面，作進一步的析探。

Vanquishing Mara is the critical pa1i in the process for learning and becoming Buddha of Sakya-muni. The temptation of dignified and opulent living for mortals is the most difficult barrier and to hinder the concentrated learning and striving of Sakya-muni. In the Buddhist-bible stories, it is customary to simulate the invisible and abstract desirable mind by the visible and realistic Mara alternatively. Once Sakya-muni defeat Mara, it means he has overcome any mo1ial desire and obtained a big step on the way to become Buddha with unbeatable will power. In Northern Wei Dynasty, Vanquishing Mara located in the 254th Grotto of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes was the earliest and the most vivid one. The Acme of Dunhuang Art appraises it the most perfect painting of Sakya-muni 's life. A further detailed research will be presented based on prince Sakya-muni's life and related painting hooked up with many respects in Chinese literature.