四大菩薩信仰是大乘佛教中國化的重要特色。佛光文化出版的繪本系列當中，《四大菩薩圖文書》以白話文在綜合同類故事的基礎上以戲劇的方式重新改寫經典故事，並以手繪水彩技法呈現故事人物和場景畫面，創造出現代版的四大菩薩，方便人們從易懂的文字和生動的圖像當中管窺菩薩精神的全貌。 本論文第二章梳理四大菩薩從印度流傳到中國的整個歷史脈絡、名號由來、以及相關經典對於菩薩修行法門的描述來為整個研究提供完整的背景知識。第三章著重於《圖文書》的圖像研究，主要從創造詮釋學、圖像學以及符號學的角度對書籍的整體設計、色彩使用、構圖以及人物造型進行分析研究。第四章則是以戲劇學和敘事學理論，在講故事原文與原典和其他同類故事進行互文參照，就故事內容的節選方式、故事結構的調整、故事情節的設置進行分析，最後系統歸納出四大菩薩利他的實踐必須透過善巧方便，而善巧方便又是在般若平等的空慧基礎上以四攝法來實現。 在圖像和文字改編分析研究的基礎上，筆者得出結論，因應時代審美心理的佛教藝術創作更能引發大眾的心靈共鳴，進而願意了解佛教圖像要傳達的佛法義理；契合當代人理解的故事改編才能加深人們對於菩薩精神的理解，並效仿他們，將菩薩行落實在生活當中。 The four great Bodhisattvas are characteristic figures in Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. In the illustrated picture book “The Four Great Bodhisattvas”（si da pu sa tu wen shu）edited and published by Buddha's Light Publications, modern Chinese language is used to adapt the classical tales. The editors combine similar stories together, select the parts suitable to modern society and dramatize their narration. All the figures and scenes are illustrated using hand-painted watercolor to create a modern version of the four great Bodhisattvas. Readers will have a complete view of Bodhisattvas' practices through the use of modern language and vivid illustration design. Chapter two of this thesis presents a historical thread of how the religion of the four Bodhisattvas spread from India to China including the Bodhisattvas' origination and descriptions of their practices in different sutras. Chapter Three focuses on iconographical studies using the method of creative hermeneutics, Erwin Panofsky's iconological method of analysis, Ferdinand de Saussure and Roland Barthes' Semiotics theory to interpret the overall design of the book, its application of colors, page composition and character design. The chapter four focuses on analyzing the structures of stories in comparison with the similar tales relevant to the adapted final version based on dramaturgical and narrative theory. Then a conclusion is drawn that the Bodhisattvas' practices of altruism can only be realized by skillful means through the four means of conversion with a mind of equality based on Prajñā wisdom. This thesis recognizes the value of adapting Buddhist artwork to cater to the aesthetic taste of the audiences. A successful artistic and literary adaption will inspire the readers to deepen their understanding of Bodhisattvas' way of practices and apply these concepts into their way of living to realize the perfecting of self and the benefitting of others.
