『少保鑑川王公督府奏議』に見えるアルタンと仏教

The Beijing University Library keeps Shaobao Jianhuan Wang Gong Dufu Zouyi (hereafer Zouyi 奏議) by Wang Chonggu who is a well-known bureaucrat of the Ming, as the originator of a peaceful relation between Altan and the Ming established on the 5th year of Longqing (隆慶5・1571). As far as l know, this is the only copy extant to day and has rarely been used for Mongolian studies. Zouyi covers from the 1st year of Longqing (1567) to the 9th month of the 1st year of Wanli (万暦元・1573), contains more information on the relation between Altan and the Ming than those of the Chinese sources such as Ming Shilu or Wanli Wugong Lu which were used by Mongolists as primary sources for the study of history of the Mongols of this period. It is noteworthy that Zouyi contains three memorials of Altan’s requests for Buddhistic articles from the Ming and some information from these three memorials are not found in Ming Shilu or Wanli Wugong Lu.Based on such information, the process of their negotiation on Buddhism from the 5th year of Longqing to the 9th month of the 1st year of Wanli and its successful results can now be clarified compared to former studies. Especially, I pointed out that by the influence of Tibetan monk Ngag dbang ʼphrin las, who came to Altan’s residence in the winter of the 5th year of Longqing (1571), led Altan to take interest in Buddhism, and that Ngag dbang ʼphrin las may be identified wlth Asing blam-a, or A seng bla ma whose activities are described in The Biography of Altan Qaan and The Biography of the Third Dalai Lama. I also clarified some titles of Buddhist cannons brought to Altan through the Ming, and that some Buddhist cannons written in Mongolian language, which have hitherto been never identified, were surely brought to Altan. It should be noted that taking advantage of the peaceful relation with the Ming, Altan consolidated his religious foundation, and on the other hand, he also invited more than 10 monks from Tibet or sent missions to Tibet to seek Buddhist cannons to nourish his religious environment.We have considered that the significance of the relation between the Mongols and the Ming of this period existed in the accomplishment of the peaceful trade which Altan desired for a long time and the stability along the border for which the Ming longed for. And now I must add the religious relationship of Buddhism to this. Regarding this relationship, which was only possible after establishing their peaceful relation, we must recognize that its first cause was not his mere desire for Buddhist cannons, images of Buddha and Buddhist altar articles made in China, but Altan’s strong desire for Buddhism.