佛典人物轉型之研究——從提婆達多形象論善知識思想轉變

Abstract

本論文主要以佛典人物——提婆達多的人設問題為主，反思這些轉變背後的意義。研究主要分為二大主軸：首先針對「佛典人物提婆達多的形象轉型」之詮釋；次而探究「提婆達多為善知識、惡知識思想轉變」之義涵。本研究主要依「文獻對佛典人物的陳述」而進行探討。其內容涉及：初期經典中的提婆達多形象，本生故事中的提婆達多形象，大乘經典中的提婆達多形象。 從文獻脈絡的記載可發現，在佛教思想發展前後兩階段，分別給予提婆達多兩種完全相反的評價：一、初期經典記載「提婆達多為惡知識形象」的負面評論，二、大乘經典記載「提婆達多為善知識形象」的正向評價。筆者嘗試釐清文獻對「提婆達多形象」於佛教中的定位。通過提婆達多的案例考察，一方面釐清歷史文獻上的史實爭論；一方面也透過詮釋差異發現思想史上的典範轉移。 本篇之研究在超越人物分析與善惡觀的探討後，可以清晰梳理出一條具有「佛法價值與意涵」的脈絡。藉由文獻整理並結合前人研究，發現提婆達多於文本之中的人物形象轉型問題，並進一步思考背後所蘊含的意義，嘗試不同考察進路，探討佛典人物轉型核心議題。筆者試圖奠定文獻對「佛典人物轉型之研究——從提婆達多形象論善知識思想轉變」，以期拾掇出一條可供後人參照的研修路徑。

The paper mainly focuses on the shifts of personality of Devadatta, a figure in Buddhist scriptures, and at the same time to reflect on the significance behind such changes. There are two main questions in this study: the first is interpretation of the transformation of Devadatta as a Buddhist figure, and the second is the transformation of Devadatta’s image between evil and virtuous friend. The research is mainly based on documentary descriptions in Buddhist scriptures. That involves the image of Devadatta in the early texts, the image of Devadatta in Jataka Tales, and the image of Devadatta in Mahayana scriptures. From the discovered contexts in literature, Devadatta has two opposite evaluations. Devadatta’s negative comments and image as an evil friend were kept in the early scriptures. However, in Mahayana scripture, Devadatta’s comments and images became positive and deemed as a virtuous friend. Hence, through this study, the author attempts to clarify the position of Devadatta’s image in Buddhism texts, to clarify controversial historical records in historical documents and to understand the paradigm shift in history. The research went beyond character analysis and the concept of good and evil, to sort out a context regarding “Dharma’s value and meaning”. Through literature review and previous research, the researcher found it interesting with Devadatta’s figure transformation and further researched the meaning behind scriptures, attempting to understand the core issue on Buddhist figure transformation. The case study hopes to contribute to future research.