融合道教與佛教信仰的普渡儀式

面對社會不安之源的孤魂野鬼，發展出七月普渡的儀式，以安頓這些地獄中無人祭祀的惡鬼。今日農曆七月普渡，除了漢人的鬼魂信仰，也融入道教與佛教的思想，因此七月普渡常稱為「中元普渡」或「盂蘭盆會」。「中元普渡」之稱與道教思想有關，在道教的神祇中，有天官、地官、水官，地官執掌赦罪，於農曆七月十五日（即中元日）神祇生日降臨人間，定人之善惡罪福。孤魂野鬼被認為罪過較深，乃延請道士做科儀救渡眾孤鬼。「盂蘭盆會」是梵語之漢譯，意為施食拯救苦難。「盂蘭盆會」係釋迦牟尼告知其弟子目連於七月十五日以盆盛五果百味，供養十方大德，以救母脫離餓鬼道。由於佛、道兩教思想之滲入，中元普渡也有佛、道兩教不同的儀式。

The seventh lunar month is traditionally regarded as Ghost Month, the result of two major festivals, one Taoist and one Buddhist, both honoring the dearly departed. The Chungyuan Festival ( 中元節 ) is part of the Taoist tradition. It is the date when the god of earth (there are separate festivals for the god of heaven and the god of water) give absolution for the sins of dead. In the Buddhist tradition this is the time of the Ullambana (deliverance) Festival ( 盂蘭盆節 ), referring to Buddha’s compassion in granting salvation for the tormented souls in hell.
 

http://www.itmaster.tw/?tag=%E4%B8%AD%E5%85%83%E7%AF%80-%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87