《钵中莲》民间社会思潮探微

《钵中莲》传奇是明代万历民间佛教信仰高涨尤其是观音崇拜膨胀的产物,再现了民间宗教勃兴、教派众多、争拉教徒、百姓纷纷入教的乡土社会现实,反映了民间佛教信仰之上升和地方家堂神灵崇拜之下降的两大社会思潮。佛教教义深得人心,道教教义冷却人心,恐怕这是造成两大社会思潮的一大原因。蔑视礼教、纵欲淫乐的个性解放思潮,是万历时期又一民间社会思潮。《钵中莲》在对此充分展示的同时,又以严厉的手段打压着这一思潮。

An Exploration into the Folk Thought in the Lotus in the Mantle (Bo Zhong Lian)

This paper probes into the underlying reasons for the popularity of the legend entitled the Lotus in the Mantle among the folks during the reign of WanLi in Ming Dynasty.For one thing,it is the result of the over-worship of Buddhisattava;for another,it is the outcome of family and clan worship.It reflects the two-fold reality: Buddhism is widely accepted while Taoism falls out of favor.This constitutes one folk thought.The other social thought is embodied in the individual emancipation,dissipation and disregard for the propriety and orthodoxy.