中英雙語話史記 第84期:唐朝佛教
Tang Dynasty
唐朝Buddhism in Tang Dynasty
佛教Buddhism had been introduced to China via the Silk Road during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC—24 AD).
佛教在西漢時期（公元前206年——公元24年）經絲綢之路傳入中國。
After five hundred years of peaks and troughs, it reached its height during the tang Dynasty.
經過500多年的跌宕起伏，它在唐朝達到了頂峯。Chang'an, the capital became the main center of Buddhist learning in East Asia.
都城長安成爲了僧人們在東亞學習的主要中心。Monasteries and temples were built throughout the country in order to bring the teachings to the people.
修道院與寺廟在國家各處被建立來將教義傳播給人民。Some of the emperors adopted Buddhism as their religion.
一些帝王將佛教當做自己的宗教信仰。Due to its dominance during the Tang Dynasty, the influence of Buddhism can be seen in a variety of aspects of social life.
由於其在唐朝時期的優勢地位，在社會生活的各個方面我們都可以看到佛教的影響。The expansion enjoyed by the faith resulted in an increase in temples and the numbers of monks.
信仰的傳播導致了寺廟和僧侶數量的增加。Shaolin Monastery, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China,
中國最著名的佛教寺廟之一——少林寺，amassed wealth and influence during the Tang and became a place of pilgrimage for both monks and laymen alike.
在唐朝積聚了財富和影響力併成爲了僧人和俗人共同的朝聖之地。In the capital, Chang'an (present day Xi'an), Daxingshan Temple, Straw Hut Temple,
在都城長安（今西安），大興善寺、草堂寺、Xingjiao Si and Xiangji Temple still exist as witness to the glory of Buddhism during the Tang era.
興教寺和香積寺仍然見證着唐朝時期佛教的光輝興盛。The spread of Buddhism in China increased mutual understanding and links with other countries,
佛在在中國的廣爲傳播提升了與其他國家之間的互相理解與聯繫，promoting friendly relations and cultural exchanges.
加強了友好關係和文化交流。Many monks traveled into India.
許多僧人旅行至印度。The Big White Goose Pagoda and Small White Goose Pagoda serve as reminders of these famous pioneers,
大雁塔和小雁塔就是這些著名先驅者的印證，such as Monk Xuanzang (602—664),who was a prominent Buddhist traveler and translator and Monk Yijing.
比如玄奘（602——664）——傑出的僧旅人和翻譯家以及僧人奕經。
Xuanzang, concerned by the diversification of Buddhism at home, decided to go to India in order to study original texts and teachings.
玄奘意識到國內佛教的多樣化之後，決定前往印度學習最原始的著作和教義。He left Chang'an in 629 to make his pilgrimage.
他於629年離開長安開始他的朝聖。After seventeen years of untold hardships and a journey of some 50 000 kilometers,
經過17年不爲人知的艱辛與超過500000公里的行程，Xuanzang returned to China bringing with him a large volume of Buddhist scriptures.
玄奘回到了中國，帶回了大量的佛教經書。He then spent twelve years at the Da Ci'en Temple translating the scriptures.
接着，他用12年時間在大慈恩寺翻譯這些著作。The famous novel A Journey to the West is based on his true story.
著名小說《西遊記》就是根據他的真實故事寫成的。Another famous monk worthy of mention is Jianzhen (688—763).
另一個值得一提的僧人是鑑真（688——763）。He was invited to preach in Japan and finally arrived there after five abortive attempts to undertake the journey there.
他受邀前往日本講道，在經歷了五次未完成的行程後最終到達目的地。His statue is still enshrined in some Japanese temples to this day.
他的塑像在今日仍被供奉在日本的一些寺廟裏。
