本文探討中國北朝佛教石刻上的法華信仰，以此觀察和討論北朝的佛教思想、信仰及其實踐上的特色。法華信仰指的是人們根據《法華經》所產生的佛教信仰，並以《法華經》作為實踐宗教行為的根據，例如燃指供佛、建造多寶塔等，上述的主張只能見於《法華經》。拜北朝佛教造像和銘記之賜，我們除了可以探討北朝人們如何看待《法華經》，以及他們如何實踐法華信仰之外，也可以透過北魏〈孫遼浮圖銘記〉考察北朝俗人（優婆塞）的個人信仰型態。簡言之，本文透過與《法華經》相關的北朝造像銘記，探討北朝人們的法華信仰以及所產生的文化效應。
除了探討北朝石刻上的法華信仰與文化效應外，本文亦透過石刻銘文討論北朝法華信仰與彌勒信仰、淨土信仰的互動。由於《法華經》文本內容的特殊性，在佛教思想上的至高性，容易吸納、連結其它佛教思想和主張。本文藉此特性討論北朝佛教石刻造像和銘記中，法華信仰與其它佛教信仰的交流。

This article examines the traits of Buddhist ideas, beliefs, and practices in the sixth century by way of an inspection of appearances of the Lotus Sutra in Northern Dynasties inscriptions. First, the distinctiveness of the idea and practice in the Lotus Sutra makes it possible to trace beliefs back to the sutra. Through many Buddhist statues and inscriptions in the Northern Dynasties, we can see how people perceived the Lotus Sutra and how they pursued their belief in the Lotus Sutra. In addition, we can inspect an individual’s Buddhist faith through the inscription for Sun Liao (孫遼) to examine the religious pattern of a layman in the Northern Dynasties. The other main point of discussion involves the interactions of the ideas of Buddhism in the Northern Dynasties, including the belief of the Lotus Sutra, the belief of Maitreya ( 彌勒), and the belief of Amitabha ( 阿彌陀佛). According to the text of the Lotus Sutra, we know it has unique thoughts, creeds and ideas. Moreover, the Lotus Sutra declares itself as a supreme Buddhist of Buddhism with the ability to absorb other Buddhist beliefs. In addition, we find that the belief in the Lotus Sutra interacted with other Buddhist beliefs in the inscriptions. Also, from the inscriptions we can see that the Lotus Sutra was in an extremely high position in the Northern Dynasties.