弥勒信仰在新疆的传布

在佛教传统中 ,弥勒为未来佛 ,后来主要受到波斯的影响 ,产生了救世主思想和功德转让思想 ,这与佛教小乘自力解脱的思想大相径庭 ,是佛教史上的一大转变和进步。弥勒信仰在新疆以及后来在中国内地能够广泛传布、历久不衰 ,是与救世主思想分不开的。由于地理位置决定 ,印度佛教东传 ,新疆首当其冲 ,根据对吐火罗文、于阗文、粟特文、回鹘文等文献的详细考察 ,可知弥勒信仰在新疆传布很广 ,最集中的地区是龟兹和焉耆。弥勒佛在佛教由印度传入中国的过程中起到了重要的作用

The spreading of Maitreya faith in Xinjiang

Maitreya is a Buddha dominating future in the Buddhism tradition, afterwards Saviour and Beneficence Transference thought was generated when it was influenced by Persia. Maitreya Faith was apparently distinct from Buddhism thought of Hinayana Self-extricating and was a great transition and progress in Buddhism history. The Saviour thought contributed a lot for Maitreya Faith to spread widely with a long lasting vigor in Xinjiang and, afterwards, in inner part of China. Due to its location, Xinjiang was firstly influenced when Buddhism spread eastward. According to the detailed investigation on materials got from Tocharian language, Yu-Tian, Sogdian and Huine languages, we knew that Maitreya Faith was widely spread in Xinjiang and the most intensive areas were Qiuci and Yanqi. Maitreya played an important role in the process of Buddhism was introduced into China from India.