Ambiguity of Avalokiteśvara and the Scriptural Sources for the Cult of Kuan-yin in China=觀音菩薩的經典依據及其名號和其他一些不明問題

Yu, Chun-fang (著)=于君方 (au.)

Author

Yu, Chun-fang (著)=于君方 (au.)

Source

中華佛學學報=Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal=Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies

Volume

n.10

Date

1997.07

Pages

409 - 464

Publisher

中華佛學研究所=Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies

Publisher Url

http://www.chibs.edu.tw/publication_tw.php?id=12

Location

新北市, 臺灣 [New Taipei City, Taiwan]

Content type

期刊論文=Journal Article

Language

中文=Chinese; 英文=English

Note

Yü Chün-fang is an associate professor of Rutgers University. 作者于君方為羅格斯大學副教授。

Keyword

Kuang-shih-yin=觀世音; Kuan-shih-yin=光世音; Kuan-tzu-tsai=觀自在; Kuan-yin=觀音; thirty-tree manifestations=三十三身; Avalokiteshvara=觀音菩薩

Abstract

The bodhisattva Kuan-yin is also known as Kuan-shih-yin or Kuan-tzu-tsai, among other names.　The bodhisattva is described as princely and heroic in some scriptures, although in the Lotus Sutra there is reference to his feminine manifestations.　The paper discusses the ambiguous of the bodhisattva's name, gender, and status by examining the main scriptural sources for the cult of Kuan-yin as developed in China. Important sutras such as the Lotus, the SurangamaL, the Pure Land Kuan ching as well as a few esoteric sutras will be discussed. Distinctive beliefs shall be examined together with ritual practices as well as art historical evidences.　A comparison between the popular “33 forms of Kuan-yin” with those mentioned in the scriptures will be made in order to suggest some possible processes through which this originally Indic bodhisattva became transformed into the Chinese “Goddess of Mercy”.

觀音一般又叫觀世音，觀自在，更早又叫光世音. 雖多本經典不明示菩薩的性別，但《華嚴經》稱觀音為「勇猛丈夫」，從《法華經》開始，觀音又可以女性形態出現於世. 本文通過顯密的一些主經典討論此菩薩的名號，性別及地位 (是佛是菩薩) 的一些不明的問題，除經典中討論的宗教信仰外，宗教儀式及實踐，及藝術史的資料也對此問題有所幫助. 最後我比較《法華》及《楞嚴經》中提到的三十三身和中日畫家畫的三十三觀音，從而探討觀音如何漢化的一些線索。

ISSN

10177132 (P)

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