釋迦牟尼佛 可能活在西元前6世

2013/11/26  內容來源 : 中央社華盛頓25日綜合外電報導

考古學家在釋迦牟尼佛出生地發現先前未發現的木造寺廟建築遺跡，也將佛陀可能生活的年代，推前至比原先認為更早的西元前6世紀。

國家廣播公司新聞網（NBC News）報導，尼泊爾藍毗尼（Lumbini）摩耶夫人廟（Maya Devi Temple）木造結構遺跡出土。這是第一個將佛陀出生地及他創立的佛教與特定年代連結起來的考古文物。

出土的木造建築在設計上，與地面上的磚造阿育王廟很類似（阿育王廟在摩耶夫人廟內）。不過，最重要的是，木造建築中有個不受建築保護的開放空間，且看似曾有1棵樹從此向外生長，而這棵樹或許就是釋迦牟尼佛誕生的娑羅雙樹（sal tree）。

考古學家康寧漢（Robin Coningham）在記者會中表示，外界長期以來對釋迦牟尼佛誕生時間和佛教生根時間有不同說法，如今這個發現可能說明真相。

一般認為，迦毘羅衛國王淨飯大王夫人摩耶（MayaDevi）準備回到父王的王國待產時，於1棵娑羅雙樹下生下釋迦牟尼佛。

儘管如此，大部分有關釋迦牟尼佛的生平和生活時間大都屬於口耳相傳，極少有科學證據可以從神話來爬梳出事實。

許多學者認為，釋迦牟尼佛生活於西元前4世紀，也於那段時間傳授佛法，約莫80歲去世。

康寧漢說，「考古工作發現，（釋迦牟尼佛出生地）有1座建於西元前6世紀的神廟」，這支持釋迦牟尼佛可能早在這段時間，就已存在且傳授佛法的假設。

研究人員以放射性碳素斷代法和光釋光測年法（optical stimulated luminescence），斷定在該場址發現的木炭碎片和沙粒所屬的年代。

同時，地質考古研究也證實，這個地底寺廟中央露天的地方有樹根存在的痕跡。

美國地理學會（National Geographic Society）部分資助康寧漢共同領導的考古團隊，他們在藍毗尼取得這個大發現，並計劃明年2月在全球發行「釋迦牟尼佛被掩埋的秘密」紀錄片（Buried Secrets of theBuddha，直譯）。

釋迦牟尼佛 存活期間往前推兩世紀

2013/11/26法新社華盛頓25日電

考古學家在釋迦牟尼佛出生地發現先前未發現的木造寺廟建築遺跡，也將佛陀可能生活的年代，推前至比原先認為更早的西元前6世紀。

尼泊爾藍毗尼（Lumbini）摩耶夫人廟（Maya Devi Temple）木造結構遺跡出土，這是第一個將佛陀出生地及他創立的佛教與特定年代連結起來的考古文物。

考古學家康寧漢（Robin Coningham）在記者會中表示，外界長期以來對釋迦牟尼佛誕生時間和佛教生根時間有不同說法，如今這個發現可能說明真相。

一般認為，迦毘羅衛國王淨飯大王夫人摩耶（MayaDevi）準備回到父王的王國待產時，於1棵娑羅雙樹下生下釋迦牟尼佛。

儘管如此，大部分有關釋迦牟尼佛的生平和生活時間大都屬於口耳相傳，極少有科學證據可以從神話來爬梳出事實。

許多學者認為，釋迦牟尼佛生活於西元前4世紀，也於那段時間傳授佛法，約莫80歲去世。

康寧漢說，「考古工作發現，（釋迦牟尼佛出生地）有1座建於西元前6世紀的神廟」，這支持釋迦牟尼佛可能早在這段時間，就已存在且傳授佛法的假設。

最早佛寺追溯到西元前6世紀

2013/11/27人間福報

這是釋迦牟尼佛的出生地，位於尼泊爾古城藍毗尼的摩耶夫人寺；

考古團隊在此　寺地下發現已知最早的佛寺結構。 圖／美聯社

【本報綜合報導】由美國《國家地理》雜誌贊助的國際考古團隊，在釋迦牟尼佛出生地，也就是尼泊爾南部靠近印度 邊界的藍毗尼，發現先前未發現的木造寺院建築遺蹟，據考是現存最古老的佛寺遺址，而此考古證據也顯示，佛陀可能生活的年代，推前至比原先認為更早的西元前 六百年。遺址還有一棵樹根遺蹟，考古團隊推測，可能是釋迦牟尼佛出生之樹。

發現古寺遺蹟的地方，位於目前已成為佛教聖地的摩耶夫人寺地下，木造結構的造型與摩耶夫人寺非常相似。摩耶夫人是悉達多（釋迦牟尼佛）的母親。

擔任共同考古領隊的英國首席南亞考古學家康寧漢二十五日表示，釋迦牟尼佛出生的時代，以及佛教的總根何在，「是一場非常漫長的爭辯，現在這場爭辯有了新的觀察角度。」也就是說，佛陀的誕生和他創立的宗教，現在可能首度有了具體證據來明確連繫於某個世紀。

目前一般的認知，迦毘羅衛國王淨飯大王夫人摩耶準備回到父王的王國待產時，在藍毗尼一棵無憂樹下產下佛陀；但關於他的生平與時代，大多只有口傳，言人人殊，向無科學證據來過濾事實。

許多學者主張佛陀的生活、傳教於西元前四百年，享壽大約八十歲。

也有不少人說，他是西元前三百或八百年的人。在尼泊爾，最通行的說法是釋迦牟尼佛出生於西元前六二三年。

康寧漢表示，「我們（在佛陀的出生地）找到這座建於西元前六百年的寺廟」，可佐證佛陀可能是在那個時代生活和傳教的假設。

考古團隊使用放射性碳以及冷光技術，以研判遺址上的木炭和沙粒的年代。

不只摩耶夫人寺造型追仿其地下遺址的木造結構，此結構還有個露天中庭，當初本來可能有棵樹，團隊發現了樹根殘餘；這是佛寺的典型傳統：以木圍欄，欄內種一棵樹。

藍毗尼在一八九六年被重新發現以前，埋沒在森林，二十五日已列入聯合國教科文組織（UNESCO）的世界遺產名單。

康寧漢應UNESCO與尼泊爾政府的邀請，與UNESCO的尼泊爾籍顧問阿查理雅共同主持二○一一年起的這次藍毗尼考古，成果刊登於十二月號的《A n t i q u i t y》文物期刊。

同時，《國家地理》雜誌也製作專題紀錄片《沉埋的佛祖奧秘》（B u r i e d S e c r e t s o f t h e B u d d h a），計畫明年二月在全球播出，可能成為明年八月維也納「國際佛教研究學會」第十七屆大會的重要話題。

Religious roots of Buddha's birthplace traced back 2,600 years

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Video: The National Geographic Channel documents the excavation of Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of the Buddha.

Archaeologists in Nepal say they have found traces of a temple structure linked to Buddha's nativity going back to the sixth century B.C.

The remnants of a timber structure — unearthed at the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal, which has traditionally been venerated as the spiritual leader's birthplace — represent the first archaeological material linking the birth of Buddha and the religion he founded to a specific century.

"Very little is known about the life of the Buddha, except through textual sources and oral tradition," Durham University archaeologist Robin Coningham said in a news release. "We thought, 'Why not go back to archaeology to try to answer some of the questions about his birth?' Now, for the first time, we have an archaeological sequence at Lumbini that shows a building there as early as the sixth century B.C."

The team of researchers, led by Coningham and Kosh Prasad Acharya of the Pashupati Area Development Trust in Nepal, published their findings Monday in the journal Antiquity. The story behind the find will be featured in a National Geographic documentary set to air in February.

Ira Block / National Geographic

Archaeologists Robin Coningham (left) and Kosh Prasad Acharya direct excavations within the Maya Devi Temple, uncovering a series of ancient temples contemporary with the Buddha. In the background of the picture, Buddhist monks can be seen meditating. A documentary on the project, "Buried Secrets of the Buddha," will premiere in February on National Geographic Channel.

Determining Buddha's birthdate
Previous evidence of Buddhist structures at Lumbini went only as far back as the third century B.C. Scholars have cited various dates for Buddha's birth, ranging from the third to the eighth century B.C. In Nepalese tradition, the most widely accepted date is 623 B.C. The freshly found evidence is consistent with that time frame, and that should help experts flesh out the historical background for Buddha, who was born as Siddhartha Gautama.

"The time at which he was born was actually a time of dramatic change," Coningham told reporters Monday. He noted that it was a time marked by urbanization and the rise of a merchant class in the region.

The find is likely to add to Lumbini's archaeological and religious importance as well. Lumbini is already listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and about a million pilgrims visit the site every year.

"These discoveries are very important to better understand the birthplace of the Buddha," Ram Kumar Shrestha, Nepal's minister of culture, tourism and civil aviation, said in a statement issued Monday. "The government of Nepal will spare no effort to preserve this significant site."

National Geographic

A National Geographic map shows the location of Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace, as well as Buddhism's three other holiest site: Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment; Samath, where he first preached; and Kusinagara, where he died.

What the scientists found
Lumbini has long been one of Buddhism's four holiest sites, but the current excavation is the first to plumb its archaeological depths in detail. Starting in 2011, Coningham, Acharya and their colleagues documented the layout of a temple that was built in the third century B.C., during the time of Emperor Ashoka. Beneath that temple, they found the massive bricks of yet another temple that was built during a previous age.

The arrangement of the temples' foundation stones suggested that there was a central area that was left open to the sky. When the archaeologists excavated that area, they found an arrangement of postholes forming an enclosure — and within that enclosure, they found the remains of tree roots. That meshed with one of the traditional layouts for Buddhist shrines: a living tree that is ringed by wooden railings.

"If the postholes at Lumbini are indicative of a tree shrine, ritual activity could have commenced either during or shortly after the life of the Buddha," the researchers wrote.

To determine the time frame for the shrine's construction, they took samples of charcoal and sand from the postholes and surrounding sediment. The charcoal was subjected to carbon-dating tests, while the sand was analyzed using a technique known as optically stimulated luminescence. The measurements all zeroed in on the sixth century B.C. as the likeliest date for construction. 

Ira Block / National Geographic

Monks chant within Lumbini's Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the birthplace of the Buddha. In the background, archaeologists conduct their excavation. The project to unravel the site's scientific roots is the subject of a National Geographic documentary, "Buried Secrets of the Buddha."

What the results imply
In recent years, historians had been leaning toward the view that Buddha was born around 400 B.C. The newly published results argue for a significantly earlier date. But Coningham said the significance of the study goes beyond the calendar.

"For the first time, we actually have scientific evidence leading to the establishment of a major Buddhist shrine," he said. It's not beyond the realm of possibility to speculate that the ancient tree at the center of Lumbini's holy site was the same tree that Buddha's mother held onto when he was born, as described in Buddhist tradition.

"This is one of those rare occasions when belief, traditions, archaeology and science come together," Coningham said.

Ira Block / National Geographic

Durham University archaeologist Robin Coningham emerges from the dig at the Lumbini Village Mound in Nepal, where a secular settlement contemporary with the earliest temple was discovered. The project to unravel the site's scientific roots is the subject of a National Geographic documentary, "Buried Secrets of the Buddha."

More about Buddhism and archaeology:

• Afghan statue hints at Buddhist cult with a twist
• Buddhist statue carved from meteorite
• Chinese mining imperils ancient Buddhist site

In addition to Coningham and Acharya, authors of the Antiquity paper, "The Earliest Buddhist Shrine: Excavating the Birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal)," include K.M. Strickland, C.E. Davis, M.J. Manuel, I. A. Simpson, K. Gilliland, J. Tremblay, T.C. Kinnaird and D.C.W. Sanderson. The National Geographic Channel documentary about the excavation, "Buried Secrets of the Buddha," will premiere internationally in February. The research was funded in part by the National Geographic Society.