中古時期《法華經》敘事與閱讀研究

Abstract

在作者創作與讀者詮釋此閱讀交流光譜的兩極，文本作為閱讀交流的媒介是否有力量主導、影響自身被記憶＼閱讀＼使用的方式？面向讀者進而召喚讀者的實踐行動是宗教文本敘事有別於一般敘事虛構作品的最大交流目的。本文視《法華經》與應驗記為召喚實踐行動的文本，探討文本本身所載負的敘事動力如何創造出新的文本與世界交涉關係。

全文分為兩個部份。正文前三章側重於掘發《法華經》經本自身所蘊藏的敘事動能，分析《法華經》如何確立現在說法的正當性、建構經典的過去法源權威以及如何保證未來教法的延續。後半部份兩章則是以法華相關的專名應驗記探討中古時期法華經的閱讀與信仰實踐。

第二章以「《法華經》如何召喚讀者的實踐行動」為問題意識，指出《法華經》透過十方三世的世界觀以及各敘事層次的拓樸相似，結合內容與形式建構出一個動態遞歸生成的法華碎形宇宙，讓文本世界與現實世界交織互滲，使讀者得以參贊其中。另一方面，《法華經》透過後設經典的自我指涉，以跨越層次的敘事交流召喚讀者進入法華宇宙中。是以《法華經》中的「法華經」是指涉各異的多義符號，而有作文本的《法華經》、十方三世諸佛所說的《法華經》以及佛陀勸奉眾生受持的《法華經》三種層次。

第三章聚焦《法華經》「一乘真實、三乘方便」的說服修辭與法源敘事。《法華經》中佛陀「言無虛妄」需從教化與教法兩個方面來理解：方便是教化真實，一乘是教法真實。《法華經》藉由「方便」法門來解釋佛陀前後說法的矛盾。因此具有階段性、適應性與多樣性等教學特點。另一方面，《法華經》用「大乘是最究竟的」之遞迴修辭，繞過「為何是大乘最究竟」的義理爭勝。於是《法華經》的解讀隨著讀者視域而產生出兩極悖反的詮釋可能：一乘究竟是一方面是對佛陀過去所有教法的包容性涵蓋，另一方面也是對於一乘以外的教法的排他性獨佔。

第四章將視角轉向大乘佛教的未來法續，分析《法華經》如何應對佛陀涅槃的宗教危機。敘事者一方面借用佛陀的話語權威，構建《法華經》為十方三世諸佛所共之究竟實相的同時，也將法源從佛身過渡到經本敘事之中，使經本能於佛滅後代替佛陀成為究竟實相的棲居地。佛陀是在此娑婆世界開啟法華碎形的分支點，而《法華經》經本則是未來無數法華碎形於現世繁衍的分支點，為未聞佛說、未值佛世的現在、未來無數眾生，能與法華究竟實相相遇的場所，進而確保法華信仰的未來法續。

第五章取徑數位人文，以全景式數位閱讀提供遠距俯瞰視角，分析六朝三本《觀世音應驗記》以及唐代《弘贊法華傳》和《法華傳記》中受持對象關鍵詞的出現模式，揭示佛教專名應驗記的結構特徵，如觀世音應驗記強調的是觀音信仰的功能性與即時性，法華應驗記則欲展示法華信仰在修道者生命中的全面性與貫徹性。而唐代兩本法華經應驗記對於觀音信仰也採取的不同態度，《弘贊法華傳》故意排除與觀音有關的元素，試圖建立一個以《法華經》為中心的獨立法華信仰。相較之下，《法華傳記》則將觀音信仰視為法華信仰的一部分，仍收錄多則觀音靈驗的故事。

第六章則關注中古時期對《法華經》的閱讀與實踐。雖然經典中佛陀授予受持《法華經》者未來成佛的預記，但未具體說明何時成佛。眾生僅能依靠經典的內容與他人的行動來以身「試」法，丈量自身與神聖乃至成佛之間的距離。本章從應驗記、智顗別傳與題記等材料，分析經典敘事與經本信仰的敘事交流及閱讀接受之間的交互作用，以見中古宗教信仰的實踐與文化記憶的形塑。

透過釐清《法華經》中不同的「法華經」，有助於我們理解不同時期、群體、與文本對《法華經》的詮釋與信仰，是基於對哪一個「法華經」層次的閱讀與理解。總結來說，經本自身所蘊藏的敘事動能，讓《法華經》成為眾生及讀者與法華實相遭遇交流的場所，只要閱讀《法華經》，就有強大的吸力被捲入這個尚在編織、生成中，並且召喚讀者實踐行動的法華碎形宇宙。

Between the poles of an author's intent and a reader's interpretation lies a spectrum of communication. Can the text itself, as a medium of communication, shape how it is remembered, read, and practiced? The primary communicative purpose of religious texts, distinct from that of fictional narratives, is to evoke practical actions from the reader. This study considers the Lotus Sutra and associated miracle tales as texts that call for practical actions, exploring how the text's inherent narrative dynamics create new relationships between the text and the world.

The thesis is divided into two main sections. In the first half, it delves into the Lotus Sutra's intrinsic narrative energies, exploring how it establishes the legitimacy of current preaching, draws on the authority of past doctrines, and ensures the future enduring transmission of the teachings. Meanwhile, the latter half focuses on medieval interpretations and practices surrounding the Lotus Sutra, particularly through the Lotus miracle tales.

Chapter Two examines how the Lotus Sutra encourages religious practice by constructing a fractal cosmos and employing self-referentiality. Shaped by the worldview of the ten directions and three times, this cosmos interweaves narrative layers into a mirrored, symmetrical structure that blends text and reality. Moreover, as a meta-sutra, the Lotus Sutra uses self-referentiality to transcend narrative levels, drawing readers into a broader cosmos. Within the Lotus Sutra, the term “Lotus Sutra” signifies various polysemous symbols, including the textual “Lotus Sutra,” the sutra spoken by Buddhas throughout myriad worlds, and the sutra to be worshiped and disseminated, operating on three distinct levels.

Chapter Three explores the persuasive rhetoric and doctrinal narrative in the Lotus Sutra, particularly the idea of “One Vehicle as Ultimate, Three Vehicles as Expedient Means.” The Buddha's statement that his "words are not false" underscores the reality of teaching through expedient means and the ultimate truth in the One Vehicle. By reconciling contradictions in the Buddha's teachings, the Sutra demonstrates its flexibility and inclusiveness. Additionally, by asserting “Mahayana as the ultimate,” the Sutra circumvents doctrinal disputes and employs recursive rhetoric, which can lead to two interpretations: One Vehicle as all-encompassing or as exclusively superior, thereby marginalizing other teachings.

Shifting the focus to the future, Chapter Four analyzes how the Lotus Sutra addresses the religious crisis after the Buddha’s nirvana. In this context, the narrative shifts doctrinal authority from the Buddha to the scripture, making it the dwelling place of ultimate truth. This transition ensures the Lotus Sutra’s role as the foundation for future proliferation, allowing countless beings to encounter its truth and thus preserving the continuity of Lotus faith.

In addition, Chapter Five uses a digital humanities approach to analyze key terms in Guanyin miracle records from the Six Dynasties and Tang dynasty texts Hongzan Fahua Zhuan 弘贊法華傳 and Fahua Zhuanji 法華傳記. The analysis shows that Guanyin miracle records emphasize the immediate and functional aspects of Guanyin devotion, while Lotus Sutra records highlight the comprehensive and enduring nature of Lotus faith. However, The two Tang texts differ in their approach: Hongzan Fahua Zhuan excludes Guanyin elements to focus on a Lotus-centered faith, whereas Fahua Zhuanji integrates Guanyin devotion as part of Lotus faith.

Finally, Chapter Six explores the reading and practice of the Lotus Sutra in the medieval period. Although the scripture promises future Buddhahood, it does not specify when it will occur. Thus, individuals test the teachings in their lives, measuring their spiritual progress. This chapter examines how the narrative and faith in the sutra interact, using materials like miracle tales, Zhiyi's biographies, and inscriptions to understand the impact on medieval religious practice and cultural memory.

In conclusion, by clarifying the different layers of the “Lotus Sutra” within the text, we gain a better understanding of how various periods, groups, and interpretations of the Lotus Sutra are based on different readings and understandings of these layers. Ultimately, the inherent narrative potential of the scripture transforms the Lotus Sutra into a site of encounter and interaction between sentient beings and the ultimate reality of the Lotus. Simply by reading the Lotus Sutra, one is drawn into this still-generating fractal cosmos and powerfully summoned to engage in practical action.