八指頭陀（1851~1912）法名敬安，字寄禪，曾發心燃二指供佛而自號「八指頭陀」。他既是晚清佛教界的領袖人物，也是一位成就不凡的詩僧。本文以八指頭陀為中心，探究其詩作的多元內涵，作為理解晚清詩僧創作成就的一個側面。首先，從其所處的時代政治環境和晚清佛教的變革，及其個人交友和生長寖潤的湖湘文化環境，了解頭陀的生平性情和修行背景，掌握其創作的心靈機制。其次，分別從感性、理性和靈性三個生命層次，探究八指頭陀詩中所體現的個人情感、家國關懷和禪悟意境，挖掘其內在生命不同層次的樣貌和境界。並從其詩歌創作成就，及相關傳記資料相互參證，構築八指頭陀的文化圖像，以見其在晚清詩史和詩僧史上的存在地位。

The monastic title of BaZhiTouTuo (1851~1912) is Jing-an, who is also named as Ji-Chan. He once swore to devote himself fully to the Buddhism and titled himself as BaZhiTouTuo. BaZhiTouTuo had a twisted life journey, which made him a person of self-abnegation, a Buddhist leader of the late Ching Dynasty, and a magnificent poetic monk. This article centers on BaZhiTouTuo, investigates the plural meanings of his poems, and gauges the achievement of monk poets in the late Ching. On one hand, the study tackles personal friendships and Huxiang culture that shapes BaZhiTouTuo’s temperament and moral practices situated in the context of political environment and Buddhism reforms in the late Ching. On the other hand, it observes BaZhiTouTuo’s interaction with the poet community in the social and cultural context of the late Ching and probes into his social participation in the age of political revolt. In addition, this study looks into BaZhiTouTuo’s sensibility, rationality and spirituality and discusses the embodiment of his personal emotion, care for the society and spiritual cultivation. Uncovering different dimensions and spheres of spirituality in BaZhiTouTuo’s life, the study analyzes his works, including his letters, talks, autobiography and inscription, in order to understand and construct a cultural image of him, which represents his personal dedication to life and cultural subjectivity. Finally, the study evaluates the values of creation and position of BaZhiTouTuo in the circle of poetic monks and in the history of the late Ching.