後周世宗の佛敎政策

Abstract

During the short period of the Five Dynasties (五代), which witnessed five changes in ruling dynasty, there were remarkable changes, political, military, economic and cultural, ultimately leading to the unification of China under the Sung dynasty. Throughout the Five Dynasties the rulers adhered to the principle that restriction should be imposed upon the number of the temples and priests of Buddhism which is of foreign origin. Emperor Shih-tsung (世宗) of the Hou-Chou (後周) dynasty, the last of the succeeding five dynasties, promulgated a thirteen-point edict in 955 A.D. on his policy toward Buddhism. Historians of Buddhism regard Shih-tsung's policy as one of the four great persecutions in the history of Buddhism in China. The author has made, however, minute studies of the event in the light of Wu-tai-hui-yao (五代會要), the Old and New Annals of the Five Dynasties and other historical records as well as inscriptions, describes Shih-tsung's policy of making Confucianism the basic principle of government in accordance with tradition, and concludes that Shih-tsung's policy toward Buddhism was not so tyrannic as often told by Buddhist writers, but it must be regarded as revealing Shih-tsuhg's statesmanship as well as his intention to restore Buddhism in its true spirit and form. The author further refers to contemporary folkways and popular Taoist-Buddhist beliefs.