北齊標異鄉義慈惠石柱 -- 中古佛教社會救濟的個案研究=A Stone Pillar Inscription of a Buddhist Benevolent Society--A Case Study of Buddhist Charitable Activities in Medieval China
This essay is a case study of a Buddhist benevolent society which operated in Hopeh Province during the sixth century, using as its main source an inscription on a huge stone pillar (seven meters in height) which documents the activities of this group. It opens with a discussion of the concept of "fields of merit" (fu-t'ien福田), and its influence on charitable activities in medieval Chinese society. It then draws on the data concerning this pal1icular benevolent society to conduct an in-depth examination of Buddhist charitable activities during the northern Dynasties, while also exploring the larger issue of Buddhism's influence on the society of that era. The author also advances a new theory as to the nature of this stone pillar. Some scholars have maintained that stone pillars are essentially similar to the inscribed pillars erected before the graves of nobles or emperors (known as mu-piao墓表or ling-piao凌標), while others maintain that they are a type of comll1ell1orative stele. This essay attempts to demonstrate that the stone pillar discussed above represents both a continuation and transformation of the Han Dynasty tradition of carving accounts of the deeds of 1l10ral cxcll1plars (i.e. filial sons, chaste widows, etc.) on ceremonial arches erected in villages or neighborhoods (known as Piao ch'i men-lu表其門閭)
