The theory of Laozi becoming a shy person

Japanese: 老子化胡説 - ろうしけこせつ

In China, this is a fictitious theory that Buddhism was preached by Laozi. It is said that Laozi, who is said to have crossed the western border and disappeared, actually went to the Hu region and started Buddhism to educate the rebellious Hu people, and therefore that Buddha is nothing but a reincarnated Laozi. The beginnings of this theory can be seen in a passage in a memorial sent by Xiang Kai of the Later Han Dynasty in 166, which reads, "Laozi went to the barbarians and became a Buddha." After the Six Dynasties period, this theory, which asserted the superiority of Taoism over Buddhism, became a powerful weapon in the anti-Buddhist movement, and various stories on the subject of Laozi becoming Hu were told, and a book called the "Laozi becoming Hu Classic" was produced.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国において，仏教は老子が説いた教えであるという虚構の説。すなわち，西方の関所をこえて姿をかくしたと伝えられる老子は，実は胡地におもむいて性質のひねくれた胡人を教化するために仏教をはじめたのだといい，したがって仏陀は老子の変化身にほかならないと説かれる。166年の後漢の襄楷（じようかい）の上奏の一節に，〈老子は夷狄（いてき）に入りて浮屠（ふと）(仏陀)となる〉とあって，その萌芽がうかがわれるが，六朝時代以後，仏教にたいする道教の優位を主張するこの説は，排仏論の有力な武器となり，老子化胡を主題とする説話がさまざまに語られ，また《老子化胡経》とよばれる書物が制作された。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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