| dc.description.abstract | Pi-ch’iu-ni chuan, written by Shih Pao-ch’ang in the Liang Dynasty, is a precious historical record related to Chinese Buddhist nuns in the early periods and the only collection of Buddhism “大正藏” for the time being. This biography helps people to realize the beginning, development and life pattern of Chinese Buddhist nuns more concretely. Nowadays, studies on Buddhist nuns are focused on the viewpoint towards female in a religion, while studies on Buddhist nuns’ biography were focused on Buddhist nuns’ history. However, how do traditional Chinese females can be superior to saint position and be put down in Buddhism sage records under the concept of “Men esteemed women humble”? This thesis is an observation, from a feminine-focus perspective, about the impact, effect and image of what the Buddhism as an external belief and life style has made on traditional Chinese females.
Refer to the research category, the comparative and analysis method was adopted in this thesis, dividing into five parts:
1. Compared with “Lives of Illustrios Women” written by Liu Hsiang in the Han Dynasty, discussing the similarities and dissimilarities of viewpoints towards female between the Confucianism and Buddhism.
2. Compared with the Buddhist scripture “Theigatha”, analyzing the motives of females decide to be Buddhist nuns under different cultures of China and India.
3. The characteristic and image of nuns were in the biography.
4. The tactic of the biography was written.
5. Making use of the Foucault’s idea of power to discuss the “Body” and “Buddhist practice” in the metaphor of the viewpoints towards gender of Buddhism.
How much does it change in the social position for females once they devoted themselves to religion? As a matter of fact, the roles the females play of and sexual relationships are essential parts in history developing process. Rather than females’ lives themselves, what editors concern about is that people, males in particular, are encouraged to do what is right influenced by good deeds of the females have done. There is no exception for Buddhist nuns, the identification with religious discipline and complete sincerity are the reasons why those Buddhist nuns could be put down in Pi-ch’iu-ni chuan. The representation on character is the rigid confidence of the moral virtue, also the representation on behavior is the widespread of Buddhism’s career and the influence of the politics society. Pi-ch’iu-ni, as a religious, is able to endow the female social position from a humble one to a superior level and good reputation. Under the concept of “Men clean women dirty” in the religion, feminine body is equivalent to sexual desire. Therefore, “Body” becomes the field for Buddhist practice, it helps people to picture the image of holy nuns by means of practicing moral culture and obeying religious discipline. | en_US |