《降魔变文》
敦煌文献《降魔变文》主要讲述建造祇园精舍的曲折故事，重点讲以智慧第一著称的佛弟子舍利弗与六师外道的代表劳度叉多次神变斗法的故事。敦煌藏经洞出土了多件《降魔变文》，其中敦煌文献P.4524讲唱手卷最有价值。本件文献正面绘有5组图像，从右到左依次绘出金刚击山、狮子啖牛、象踏宝池、金翅鸟战毒龙、毗沙门天王降夜叉。横卷的背面存有5段文字，内容与正面画面情节一一对应。9至10世纪敦煌地区讲唱文艺流行，“于是张翠幕，列画图，扣洪钟，奏清梵”。通常只需要一位或两位故事讲述人，边吟唱韵文或者讲解故事，边展示画卷。这件文献是目前找到的唯一作讲唱用途的《降魔变文》手卷，它以实物形式证实了讲唱文学中观图听讲这一事实。
敦煌壁画也绘有这个斗法的故事，这一题材的经变画叫《劳度叉斗圣变》。敦煌壁画共绘有19铺《劳度叉斗圣变》，莫高窟、榆林窟、西千佛洞和五个庙石窟均有绘制。这个题材的经变和变文对中国古典神魔小说产生了巨大的影响，如《西游记》中孙悟空与二郎神、孙悟空与羊力大仙的神变斗法，就和舍利弗与劳度叉斗法的情节十分相似。
The Transformation Text of Subjugation of Demons
Dunhuang manuscript, The Transformation Text of Subjugation of Demons, primarily tells the intriguing story of the construction of Jetavana Monastery. It focuses on the tale of Shariputra, a foremost disciple of Buddha known for his wisdom, engaging in a series of miraculous battles with Raudrākṣa, a representative figure of the Six Heretics. Several copies of the Transformation Text of Subjugation of Demons were discovered in the Library Cave, among which the handscroll manuscript P.4524 is the most valuable. The front of this manuscript is adorned with five groups of images. From right to left, they depict the Vajra striking the mountain, a lion devouring a bull, an elephant trampling a pool of treasures, a garuda fighting a venomous dragon, and the deity Vaisravana subduing the Yaksha. On the back of the horizontal scroll are five sections of text, each corresponding to the scenes on the front. During the 9th and 10th centuries, storytelling performances were popular in the Dunhuang region, where "curtains were raised, paintings were displayed, bells were struck, and chants were performed". Typically, only one or two storytellers were needed. They would recite rhymed verses or explain the story while displaying the scroll illustrations. This particular manuscript is currently the only known scroll of Transformation Text of Subjugation of Demons that has been used for storytelling performances, providing tangible evidence of the practice of illustrating and narrating tales in this form of literature.
The story of the miraculous battle is also depicted in Dunhuang murals, where this theme is referred to as Raudrākṣa's Contest with Śāriputra. A total of 19 murals depicting the theme can be found in Dunhuang, including the Mogao Caves, Yulin Caves, Western Thousand-Buddha Caves, and the Five-Temple Caves. This theme of scriptural transformation and narrative exerted a significant influence on Chinese classical supernatural fiction. For example, the divine battles in Journey to the West, such as those between Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) and Erlang Shen, or between Sun Wukong and the Goat-Strength Immortal, bear a striking resemblance to the battle between Shariputra and Raudraksa.
