On the role of buddhism in the diplomatic relationships of the Chinese Southern Dynasties : An analysis of the memorials sent by the Nanhai Kingdoms

DOI Web Site

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 中国南朝の対外関係において仏教が果たした役割について : 南海諸国が奉った上表文の検討を中心に
  • チュウゴク ナンチョウ ノ タイガイ カンケイ ニ オイテ ブッキョウ ガ ハタシタ ヤクワリ ニ ツイテ ナンカイ ショコク ガ タテマツッタ ジョウヒョウブン ノ ケントウ オ チュウシン ニ

Search this article

Abstract

This article examines memorials (上表文) sent to the Southern dynasties that display a strong Buddhist influence. Its first chapter focuses on the analysis of the memorials sent to the Song and the Liang Dynasties from the Shizi 師子 Kingdom and the Tian-zhu-jia-pi-li 天竺迦〓黎 and Zhong-tian-zhu 中天竺 Kingdoms, which have been considered the same kingdom, but despite the common name Tian-zhu 天竺, they should not be regarded as the same. In addition, it is difficult to confirm that tribute sent in the name of the Shizi Kingdom in 527 was really sent by that kingdom. Chapter 2 discusses the circumstances under which the memorials sent to the Song and Nanqi Dynasties correspond to those sent to the Liang Dynasty and concludes that the former were composed by Buddhist monks who moved between the Nanhai 南海 Kingdoms and China, in such places as Funan 扶南. Moreover, the author argues that during the reign of Liang Dynasty Emperor Wu, correspondence was sent out expressing the emperor's wish to receive Buddhist-worded memorials, which forced neighboring kingdoms to consult older memorials preserved in a place presumably Funan. Given this background, Chapter 3 examines the relationship between the Southern dynasties and those kingdoms which sent Buddhist-influenced memorials, concluding that the traditional tribute relationship (册封 or 除授) was not formed between the Southern dynasties and those kingdoms, with only one exception during the Song era. This is because their memorials presumed a different relationship, between the Chinese emperor as bodhisattvas who provide guidance in popular worship and the kingdoms, as described in the Buddhist scripture about the relationship between Ashoka the Great and the kingdoms on his periphery. Within such a scenario, the traditional emperor-subject tribute relationship was considered inappropriate. Considering the situation of the Southern dynasties having to legitimize their existence in competition with the Northern dynasties, the author argues that the former, particularly the Liang dynasty, instituted a new form of diplomatic relationship based on Buddhism, which was now expected to play an international role as the guarantor of dynastic legitimacy.

Journal

  • SHIGAKU ZASSHI

    SHIGAKU ZASSHI 117 (12), 2047-2082, 2008

    The Historical Society of Japan

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top