liuli; poli; Seven Treasures; Buddhist rituals; religious practices
摘要
In Buddhist texts, liuli was considered as one of the Seven Treasures (qibao 七寶). The author investigated all kinds of materials concerning glass: Buddhist scriptures, historical records, Chinese poetries and literatures, stone inscriptions, manuscripts and paintings from the Dunhuang Library Cave, mural paintings in Gansu and Xinjiang, archaeological relics from terrestrial palaces of Buddhist pagodas, tombs and cellars, and focuses on the relationship between liuli and other unearthed remains in a holistic approach to the Seven Treasures, and in the context of Buddhist offerings (treasure offering and perfume offering) and sacred utensils. The author hopes to cast some new light on the religious function and symbolic meaning of liuli in Buddhist ritual practices, trace the origin of this concept and examine its demonstration in text and art. This paper is a case study intended to develop a comprehensive understanding of ritual texts and religious practices in the using of sacred objects and to rethink the role of material culture in Buddhist history and natural history in Medieval China.
目次
Liuli 琉璃 in the Buddhist Concept of ‘Seven Treasures’ 232 Liuli in Buddhist Belief: Its Function and How It was Expressed in Buddhist Art 240 Liuli and Buddhist Manuscript Culture 252 Conclusion: Treasures and Esoteric Buddhism 258
