莫高窟第161窟中心佛坛上塑像及相关问题考

内容摘要：莫高窟第161窟中心佛坛上南、北两侧现各存一身塑像，头部与两臂皆已毁坏，与常见作为胁侍的弟子、菩萨造像的着装明显不同，以前普遍认为是着吐蕃服装的供养人或胁侍菩萨。研究发现，这两身塑像并非吐蕃世俗人服装，而是童子着装，由此推断其为着童子装的善、恶童子，进而认为坛上的主尊应为两臂或多臂观音。此窟由观音统领万菩萨，具有万菩萨堂性质。该窟窟主应为张议潮，与第156窟同期营建，具有护国及窟主为其父母荐亡祈福的性质。

关键词：莫高窟第161窟；善恶童子；观音菩萨

中图分类号：K879.21  文献标识码：A  文章编号：1000-4106（2023）03-0051-15

A Study on the Statues on the Central Altar in

Mogao Cave 161

GUO Junye

（Textual Research Institute， Dunhuang Academy， Lanzhou 730030， Gansu）

Abstract：There are two statues on the central altar in Mogao cave 161， one to the south and one to the north side. The heads and arms of both statues have unfortunately been destroyed.  Judging from their clothing， the figures depicted are obviously different from the common disciples and Bodhisattvas that are often seen flanking the Buddha; previous research has generally proposed that they are either donors or attendant bodhisattvas dressed in Tibetan garb. Based on careful observation and comparison with relevant Buddhist images， this paper infers that since the two statues are dressed in clothing traditionally worn by young boys， rather than non-Tibetan secular clothing， these statues are likely representations of the Twins of Good and Evil （善惡童子 shan'e tongzi）. On this basis， the central image on the altar would be a depiction of two-armed or multi-armed Guanyin （Avalokitesvara）. This cave was meant to be a hall for the Ten Thousand Bodhisattvas， who were agents at the command of Guanyin. This paper believes that the owner of cave 161 was Zhang Yichao， that the cave was built in the same period as Mogao cave 156， and that the spiritual intention behind the cave's construction was to protect the country and to pray for blessings for the deceased parents of Zhang Yichao.

Keywords：Mogao cave 161; Twins of Good and Evil; Guanyin

莫高窟第161窟位于莫高窟崖面南区南段第四层，南大像北侧。此窟上方有一座佛塔，下方为张议潮功德窟第156窟。这两窟一塔的塔门、窟门基本处在一条垂直线上，为一组上下垂直关系的塔窟组合（图1）。

第161窟位于张议潮功德窟之上，洞窟内容相较而言又较为特殊，无论是洞窟塑像、壁画内容或是功德主都引发较多学者的关注，是近年来比较热门的研究对象。1942－1943年间张大千先生与谢稚柳先生调查莫高窟时，二位先生的著作《漠高窟记》与《敦煌艺术叙录》中有关于此窟的尺寸测量、内容描述，均将中心佛坛上的塑像认为是“天童二区（躯），残毁，晚唐塑”［1-2］；1942年何正璜女士随同教育部艺术文物考察团考察莫高窟，对第161窟塑像的记录是“内塑像已毁，仅余残身二段”［3］{2}；1942年8月23日石璋如先生的记录是“塑像：三尊式。主像为坐佛，胁侍二像有身无头”［4］。……