錫金王子1908年的世界旅行與菩提伽耶復興運動

Prince of Sikkim’s World Tour in 1908 and the Restoration Movement of Buddha Gaya

藏傳佛教於十六世紀至十八世紀期間，從喜馬拉雅山地和西藏傳播到蒙古、滿洲、北京等地，成為推動歐亞大陸東半部歷史變遷的重要因素，先行的亞洲史研究對此已有揭示。然而，關於十九世紀以後西藏和藏傳佛教徒在亞洲史中所扮演的角色，仍有許多尚未闡明之處。值得注意的是，十九世紀末以後的藏傳佛教僧人們，利用鐵路、定期航線等現代化交通網絡，跨越既存的藏傳佛教圈，拓展活動範圍，抵達內陸與海域，甚至在亞洲與歐洲之間，扮演了溝通橋樑的作用。那麼，他們的行動會帶來何種知識及訊息傳遞，以及形成怎樣的人際網絡呢？對藏傳佛教文化圈，以及亞洲的近代史，又會產生何種政治和文化的影響？本文以1908年喜馬拉雅的藏傳佛教王國錫金王子（錫東祖古）的世界旅行為例，究明其於包括南亞和日本在內的亞洲佛教徒之間展開的菩提伽耶（Buddha Gaya）復興運動中所發揮的核心作用。再者，在英屬印度與清帝國間的國界劃定後，錫金與西藏的歷史逐漸走向不同發展進程；錫東祖古的一系列活動，則在雙方之間的聯繫上，發揮著關鍵的媒介作用。

In previous studies on the history of Inner Asia, the activities of Tibetan Buddhist monks have been primarily researched in regions where Tibetan Buddhism flourished, such as Tibet, Mongolia, Manchuria, and Beijing. However, what deserves further attention is the fact that Tibetan Buddhist monks after the late nineteenth century expanded their scope of movement and activity beyond the existing Tibetan Buddhist regions, utilizing modern transportation networks such as railways and regular shipping routes, reaching even maritime areas. The political, religious, and social impacts of their movement and activities bridging inland and maritime regions remain largely unknown in the broad context of modern Asian history. This article focuses on the world tour in 1908 undertaken by Prince Sikyong Tulku Namgyal of Sikkim, a Tibetan Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas. It reveals how he became a new central figure in the restoration movement of Buddha Gaya among Buddhist communities in Asia including Meiji Japan. Furthermore, it highlights how his activities played an important role in reestablishing the historical connection between Tibet and Sikkim, which had grown apart due to the demarcation of the national border between British India and the Qing Empire since late nineteenth century.