Source: Fang and Gao 2012

Fang Yixin 方一新 and Gao Lieguo 高列过. “Cong wenxian jizai kan Fenbie gongde lun de fanyi niandai” 从文献记载看〈分别功德论〉的翻译年代. In Zongguo dianji yu wenhua luncong 中国典籍与文化论丛, vol. 14, 203-213. Fenghuang chuban she, 2012.

Assertions

Assertion Argument Place in source Search

Fang and Gao examine evidence pertaining to the Fenbie gongde lun in all the major catalogues and summarize as follows:

1. Title: Some catalogues record the title Fenbie gongde jing 分別功德經 (CSZJJ, GJYJTJ) while others record Fenbie gongde lun 分別功德論 (Fajing, Jingtai, DTNDL, Yancong). Based on the excerpts in the Jing lü yi xiang 經律異相 and the Fa yuan zhu lin 法苑珠林, they conclude they are both the same text as the received T1507.

2. Length: Some catalogues record the text as 3 fascicles long, while others give 5 fascicles. Notably, the fascicle number for the excerpts in both Jing lü yi xiang and Fa yuan zhu lin accord with the fascicle numbering in the received T1507.

3. Ascription and dating:

(1) No dates and no translator: CSZJJ, Fajing, Yancong, Jingtai, DTNDL, LDSBJ.

(2) No translator, but dated to the Later Han: LDSBJ [here Gao and Fang’s summary of information in LDSBJ appears to be inconsistent, because LDSBJ on the whole lists T1507 as having no translator or dates, but at the same time, it does list it under the Later Han catalogue --- SC]; also GJYJTJ, DZKZM, KYL.

(3) Dharmarakṣa: DZKZM [again, this appears to contradict the information given under point (2) above, but DZKZM does make both of these claims about Fenbie gongde jing/lun in different places---SC].

(4) Possibly shares the same translator as the Zhengyi ahan jing: KYL [also appears to contradict (2), but Zhisheng also does make both remarks --- SC.]

Emphasizing this last speculation from Zhisheng, as well as the alternate title given in CSZJJ, viz. Zhengyi ahan jing shu 增一阿含經疏, Fang and Gao conclude that the majority of the external evidence does not support a dating to the Later Han. Rather, T1507 most likely dates from the Eastern Jin, as both authors had already proposed in previous papers based on the style of the text.

Edit

 Fang and Gao examine evidence pertaining to the Fenbie gongde lun in all the major catalogues and summarize as follows: 1. Title: Some catalogues record the title Fenbie gongde jing 分別功德經 (CSZJJ, GJYJTJ) while others record Fenbie gongde lun 分別功德論 (Fajing, Jingtai, DTNDL, Yancong). Based on the excerpts in the Jing lu yi xiang 經律異相 and the Fa yuan zhu lin 法苑珠林, they conclude they are both the same text as the received T1507. 2. Length: Some catalogues record the text as 3 fascicles long, while others give 5 fascicles. Notably, the fascicle number for the excerpts in both Jing lu yi xiang and Fa yuan zhu lin accord with the fascicle numbering in the received T1507. 3. Ascription and dating: (1) No dates and no translator: CSZJJ, Fajing, Yancong, Jingtai, DTNDL, LDSBJ. (2) No translator, but dated to the Later Han: LDSBJ [here Gao and Fang’s summary of information in LDSBJ appears to be inconsistent, because LDSBJ on the whole lists T1507 as having no translator or dates, but at the same time, it does list it under the Later Han catalogue --- SC]; also GJYJTJ, DZKZM, KYL. (3) Dharmaraksa: DZKZM [again, this appears to contradict the information given under point (2) above, but DZKZM does make both of these claims about Fenbie gongde jing/lun in different places---SC]. (4) Possibly shares the same translator as the Zhengyi ahan jing: KYL [also appears to contradict (2), but Zhisheng also does make both remarks --- SC.] Emphasizing this last speculation from Zhisheng, as well as the alternate title given in CSZJJ, viz. Zhengyi ahan jing shu 增一阿含經疏, Fang and Gao conclude that the majority of the external evidence does not support a dating to the Later Han. Rather, T1507 most likely dates from the Eastern Jin, as both authors had already proposed in previous papers based on the style of the text. T1507; Zengyi ahan jing shu 增壹阿含經疏; 分別功德論