仁王護國法會與戰後臺灣社會(1949-1987)=The Royal Ceremonials to Protect the Country from Calamities and to Induce Prosperity and Society of Taiwan after the War (1949-1987)
道安=Ven. Tao An; 仁王護國法會=Royal Ceremonials to Protect the Country from Calamities and to Induce Prosperity; 仁王護國波羅蜜多經=The Sutra of Royal Ceremonials to Protect the Country from Calamities and to Induce Prosperity; 臺灣佛教=Buddhism in Taiwan; 救護眾生=protecting lives from sufferings
This paper aims to explore the significance of the Royal Ceremonials to Protect the Country from Calamities and to Induce Prosperity (RCPCCIP) which frequently take place on this island. From the history of China, we have found that the RCPCCIP is held on the basis of the Sutra of the Benevolent King, according to which if a ruler is benevolent, then the country will be prosperous. After 1949 and before 1987, Taiwan was working hard to recover her strength, and accordingly the ceremonials often aimed to stabilize the ruling party and to pray for national prosperity. As the economy of the nation began to rise, the ceremonials did not cease to pray for national prosperity. However, as the society was facing new problems caused by economic developments, the ceremonials began to ask for the purification of the mind. After the 1990s, the RCPCCIP became a routine, mainly praying for ”nice winds and moderate rain” or ”national prosperity and civil safety.” It is obvious that the same sutra can be used for different purposes according needs of the time and place.
