從斯里蘭卡到緬甸看上座部佛教文化圈王權觀之演變

Evolution of Ideal Kingship in the Cultural Sphere of Theravāda Buddhism from Sri Lanka to Myanmar

這篇文章探討上座部文化圈的王權觀。文中首先論述大寺派如何統一斯里蘭卡上座部並傳到大陸東南亞，形成巴利大都會。接著以斯里蘭卡為例，而以大寺派教史文典為檢視對象，並把教法思想作為連結，從中分析阿育王當為上座部王權典範所透露出的一些重要意涵。最後透過緬甸之實例，詳細檢視上座部傳到大陸東南亞在教法與王權思想上的重大改變。文中具體交代從初期佛教到近代上座部王權思想演變之來龍去脈。

This paper explores the ideals of kingship in the cultural circles of Theravāda Buddhism. It begins with the topics of the unification of Theravāda under the Mahāvihāra in Sri Lanka and the spread of Theravāda to Mainland Southeast Asia to form the so-called“Pāli Cosmopolis”. Beginning with the investigation of the Sri Lankan Vaṃsa texts of the Mahāvihāra, this paper then explains how Aśoka becomes the paradigm of kingship in Theravāda Buddhism through his important connection with sāsana. The last part of the paper focuses on the great transformation ideas of sāsana and the ideal kingship in Southeast Asia through the lens of Myanmar. It elucidates in some detail the evolution of the model kingship in Buddhism from early to modern times.