西(xi)天取(qu)(qu)(qu)經(jing)是指《西(xi)游記》中的傳(chuan)奇歷險(xian)故(gu)事,西(xi)天取(qu)(qu)(qu)經(jing)描寫的是孫悟空、豬八戒、沙和尚、小白龍保護唐僧(seng)西(xi)天取(qu)(qu)(qu)經(jing),歷經(jing)九九八十一難的傳(chuan)奇歷險(xian)故(gu)事。
《西(xi)游記》描寫的(de)是作者(zhe)想(xiang)象中(zhong)的(de)故事(shi)(shi),但歷史上確實也有其事(shi)(shi)。當代陰陽(yang)易辨派創始(shi)人髙煜翔評價(jia)《西(xi)游記》:“西(xi)游盡磨難(nan),終見意(yi)志(zhi)堅,愿做菩提樹,普渡化(hua)眾生。”
《西游記》是中(zhong)國古典四大名著之(zhi)一,由(you)明代小(xiao)說家(jia)吳承恩編(bian)撰而(er)成(cheng)。
此(ci)書描寫的(de)(de)是(shi)孫(sun)悟空、豬八戒、沙和尚保護唐(tang)僧西天取經,歷經九(jiu)九(jiu)八十一難的(de)(de)傳(chuan)奇歷險故事。
西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)指(zhi)印(yin)度(du),因為古代交通不(bu)(bu)發(fa)(fa)達,人(ren)們以為印(yin)度(du)已經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)的(de)(de)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)邊了(le)。唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)歷史上一(yi)(yi)件真(zhen)實(shi)的(de)(de)事。大約距今一(yi)(yi)千(qian)三百多(duo)(duo)年(nian)(nian)前,即唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)太宗(zong)貞觀(guan)3年(nian)(nian)(629年(nian)(nian)),年(nian)(nian)僅29歲的(de)(de)青年(nian)(nian)和尚玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)帶(dai)領一(yi)(yi)個弟子離開京城長安,到(dao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)竺(印(yin)度(du))游學(xue)(xue)。他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)從(cong)(cong)長安出(chu)發(fa)(fa)后,途經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)中(zhong)亞、阿富汗(han)、巴基斯(si)坦。過高(gao)昌(chang)國(guo)(guo)(guo)時(shi),那里(li)(li)的(de)(de)居民(min)非常(chang)(chang)推崇佛(fo)教(jiao),國(guo)(guo)(guo)王(wang)見他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)們是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)從(cong)(cong)大唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)來(lai)的(de)(de)和尚,非常(chang)(chang)高(gao)興,愿(yuan)封他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)們為護國(guo)(guo)(guo)法(fa)(fa)師(shi),加上黃(huang)金百兩、駿馬(ma)千(qian)匹。弟子動搖了(le),最(zui)后留在(zai)(zai)(zai)了(le)高(gao)昌(chang)國(guo)(guo)(guo),而(er)(er)玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)偷溜了(le)出(chu)來(lai)向西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)逃(tao)去(qu)(qu)。不(bu)(bu)料被高(gao)昌(chang)國(guo)(guo)(guo)士兵截住。沒(mei)想到(dao)他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)們是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)前來(lai)護送玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)去(qu)(qu)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)的(de)(de)。士兵送給玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)一(yi)(yi)匹白(bai)馬(ma)和一(yi)(yi)些文(wen)書,玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)感(gan)激不(bu)(bu)已。他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)向王(wang)宮方(fang)向拜了(le)幾拜,就騎馬(ma)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)去(qu)(qu)了(le)。玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)歷盡艱難險阻,最(zui)后到(dao)達了(le)印(yin)度(du)。他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)在(zai)(zai)(zai)那里(li)(li)學(xue)(xue)習了(le)兩年(nian)(nian)多(duo)(duo),并(bing)在(zai)(zai)(zai)一(yi)(yi)次(ci)大型佛(fo)教(jiao)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)學(xue)(xue)辯論會(hui)任主講,受到(dao)了(le)贊(zan)譽,并(bing)從(cong)(cong)天(tian)(tian)(tian)竺帶(dai)回(hui)諸多(duo)(duo)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)書,為中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的(de)(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)發(fa)(fa)展做出(chu)貢(gong)獻。貞觀(guan)20年(nian)(nian)(646年(nian)(nian)),47歲的(de)(de)玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)回(hui)到(dao)了(le)長安,帶(dai)回(hui)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)書657部(bu)(bu)。而(er)(er)在(zai)(zai)(zai)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)老百姓(xing)印(yin)象中(zhong),《西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)游記(ji)(ji)》中(zhong)的(de)(de)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang))似乎(hu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)第一(yi)(yi)人(ren)。有(you)學(xue)(xue)者指(zhi)出(chu),其實(shi)東北和尚曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)一(yi)(yi)行(xing)25人(ren),早(zao)(zao)在(zai)(zai)(zai)公(gong)元420年(nian)(nian)就從(cong)(cong)幽州龍城(現遼寧省朝(chao)陽(yang)(yang)市)出(chu)發(fa)(fa)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)行(xing)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)。這比唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)足足要(yao)早(zao)(zao)209年(nian)(nian)。朝(chao)陽(yang)(yang)北塔博物館(guan)資(zi)深(shen)研究人(ren)員(yuan)董高(gao)告訴記(ji)(ji)者,根據史料記(ji)(ji)載,曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)又稱法(fa)(fa)勇,俗(su)姓(xing)李(li),幽州龍城人(ren)。他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)10多(duo)(duo)歲時(shi)就出(chu)家修行(xing),經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)常(chang)(chang)慨(kai)嘆(tan)佛(fo)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)殘缺不(bu)(bu)全,又聽說高(gao)僧(seng)法(fa)(fa)顯(xian)(xian)等(deng)人(ren)曾去(qu)(qu)西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)佛(fo)國(guo)(guo)(guo)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing),遂發(fa)(fa)誓效仿。北燕太平12年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元420年(nian)(nian)),曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)招集志同道合的(de)(de)僧(seng)猛、曇(tan)(tan)朗法(fa)(fa)師(shi)等(deng)25名和尚西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)行(xing)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)。他(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)們途經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)今天(tian)(tian)(tian)的(de)(de)青海(hai)、甘肅、新疆等(deng)地,翻越雪山大漠、絕壁深(shen)淵,最(zui)終(zhong)(zhong)到(dao)達如今的(de)(de)阿富汗(han)、巴基斯(si)坦和印(yin)度(du)等(deng)多(duo)(duo)個佛(fo)寺修行(xing)。西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)行(xing)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)的(de)(de)25名東北和尚中(zhong),有(you)12人(ren)墜崖而(er)(er)亡(wang),有(you)8人(ren)中(zhong)途餓(e)死,最(zui)終(zhong)(zhong)只(zhi)剩下曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)等(deng)5人(ren)返(fan)回(hui)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo),帶(dai)回(hui)并(bing)翻譯了(le)《觀(guan)世音受記(ji)(ji)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)》一(yi)(yi)部(bu)(bu)。董高(gao)認為,曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)等(deng)25名和尚西(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)行(xing)取(qu)(qu)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing),從(cong)(cong)時(shi)間上比較(jiao),要(yao)晚于“天(tian)(tian)(tian)竺留學(xue)(xue)第一(yi)(yi)人(ren)”東晉和尚法(fa)(fa)顯(xian)(xian)21年(nian)(nian),但(dan)比唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang))要(yao)早(zao)(zao)兩個多(duo)(duo)世紀。從(cong)(cong)佛(fo)教(jiao)地位來(lai)說,曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)只(zhi)帶(dai)回(hui)1部(bu)(bu)佛(fo)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing),而(er)(er)玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)帶(dai)回(hui)并(bing)翻譯的(de)(de)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)、論有(you)75部(bu)(bu)1335卷,法(fa)(fa)顯(xian)(xian)帶(dai)回(hui)并(bing)翻譯的(de)(de)佛(fo)經(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)有(you)6部(bu)(bu)24卷。曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)的(de)(de)歷史功績遠不(bu)(bu)及法(fa)(fa)顯(xian)(xian)和玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)。據記(ji)(ji)者查閱,1999年(nian)(nian)版《辭(ci)海(hai)》中(zhong),法(fa)(fa)顯(xian)(xian)和玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)都有(you)詞條介紹,而(er)(er)曇(tan)(tan)無(wu)竭(jie)(jie)則沒(mei)有(you)。