漢譯佛典中的蓮華色尼文學故事類型攷述

Abstract

蓮華色尼的因緣故事是古代印度婦女具有的一種類型故事。在漢譯佛典中，類似的故事存於數十種經律之中，涉及的人物也有十餘位。其中，故事情節最為曲折複雜的當屬蓮華色尼、微妙尼、瘦瞿答彌尼。其內容以「六種惡報」和「亂倫惡報」為基礎，情節大同小異。就故事情節而言，「亂倫報應」故事與「六種惡報」故事當屬兩個完整獨立之系統，難以合而為「七種報應」。根據佛教「因果輪回」和「善惡報應」理論，蓮華色尼等類型故事的「惡報」說構成了女性的罪惡和苦難。事實上，古代印度女性社會地位的低下、生老病死以及童婚和一夫多妻的婚姻制度，是構成女性苦難的重要根源之一。佛教的拯救成為女性走出苦難的一條必然之路。尼團的建立，意味著為女性獲得更多的獨立性的機會提供了可能。

The life story of the Bhikṣuṇī Utpala-varṇā is representative of womanhood in ancient India. In the Chinese Buddhist Canon there are dozens of similar stories relating to this famous nun, and include more than ten different characters. The most elaborate versions involve Utpala-varṇā Bhikṣuṇī 蓮華色尼, Bhadrakā（Madhurā）Bhikṣuṇī微妙尼, and Kṛcchra- Gautamī Bhikṣuṇī瘦瞿答彌尼. Despite a number of minor variations, the stories are largely similar, and center on the theme of retribution for incest and the six evil deeds. Utpala-varṇā is the most prominent character of this family of stories which consists of two independent groups, one centering on incest, and the other centering on the six evil deeds. Such narratives of the tribulations of womanhood are meant to illustrate the Buddhist concepts of karma, rebirth, and retribution for good and evil. They also reveal how the low social status of women in ancient Indian society, child marriage, and polygamy all contributed to their predicaments. The Buddhist path to salvation is presented as the solution to the great difficulties these women faced, and it can be seen that their entry into the bhikṣuṇī-saṃgha brought enhanced independence and opportunities for spiritual growth.