摘要
本文主要從道教經典當中探討中世紀時期對死亡救度觀念與儀式的轉變。太陰練形的概念與中國人本身注重身體的觀念有關，也就是經由魂神與肉體的修練，使精神與身體同登仙界，中古時期的天師道與上清經典對太陰練形有各種不同的描述。而這種觀念也進入死後的救度之中。在墓葬出土文物之中我們已經看到亡者屍體保存的重要性，這顯示著古代中國人認為死後狀態與屍身完整有一定的關聯性。早期文物可看到解注與安鎮尸形的重要，而後來發展的儀式強調的是使先祖脫離苦難，到達安樂之處。這種模式後來成為一種解救死者魂魄並使之與屍骨形體結合，進而免離囚徒之苦，上升天界的救度之法。這種模式在古靈寶經中被轉化為儀式，其中《太上洞玄靈寶滅度五鍊生尸妙經》就是一個救度死者的重要經典。這種罪謫倫理的轉變約發生於五世紀，隨著佛教觀念的深化，道教儀式的重心從為亡者首謝解謫轉向亡祖的解救，鍊度成為亡者救度的重要過程，也成為道教亡者救度儀式的特色。靈寶經典的亡者救度可以《度人經》作為開端，而《太上洞玄靈寶滅度五鍊生尸妙經》則是鍊度儀式的一個轉捩點，首次完整地結合靈寶天文與喪葬儀式，正式將鍊度救濟與地獄拔度的觀念以儀式的形式呈現。《太上洞玄靈寶滅度五鍊生尸妙經》也明確在祈願當中提出鍊屍─開府─出魂─沐浴─冠帶─遷上─供衣食等，一個完整的救度模式與程序。這些觀念在後來的道教喪葬儀式之中都被保留。從歷史發展來看，這種死亡救度儀式自五世紀初即已具備完整觀念，並已有儀式雛型。這個死者救度儀式之所以可以保存千年，主要是對生者而言，他們的親人先祖在儀式過程中，從地獄受到救度，並回復原形而昇遷天堂。這在注重孝道的華人社會中是相當重要的安慰與撫藉，也使得鍊度的觀念與儀式在華人社會中存續千年而未斷絕。
This paper aims to investigate the transformation of the concept of death salvation in Medieval China. The Daoist idea of refinement of the body is closely related to the concept of the afterlife in Medieval China. From excavations of Han dynasty tombs, it is evident that specific preservation methods were used to preserve the body of the dead. It was believed that the soul of the deceased would not disappear; rather, it would dwell in a statue or the corpse. This paper begins with the relationship between early Daoism and Han grave contracts, placing the early development of the Daoist concept of body refinement after death in a historical context. The investigation includes an examination of the thought of early Celestial Masters regarding the refinement of the body in Grand Yin. It also includes the Lingbao Purification Rites, which, despite being touted as able to aid the dead, were only actually used for the salvation of long-dead ancestors. One of the important processes was to refine the bodies of ancestors. The further development of body refinement after death appears in the Scripture of Salvation and the Scripture of Five Refinements of Living Beings and Corpses in the Eastern Jin and early Southern Dynasties. It was only at this time that Daoist refinement of the body, particularly the rituals preserved in Lingbao scriptures, came to be considered a complete ritual of death salvation, which could offer salvation for ancestors. The ritual of body refinement became an individual rite in funerary rituals during the Song dynasty, and it is still preserved in contemporary Daoist rituals. The ritual not only offered support to those unable to complete cultivation during their own lifetimes; it also provided a means of salvation for ancestors suffering in hell. Based on the concept of body refinement, the rituals for salvation of the dead can perform a vital function by relating filial piety and Chinese culture in a proper way.
關鍵詞
道教 靈寶 練形 鍊度 死亡救度
Daoism, Lingbao, refinement of body, death salvation