Source: Li 2023

Li, Chengpeng. “The Travels of the Empowered Buddhist Texts: Translations, Revisions, or Compositions.” MA Thesis, University of Heidelberg, 2023.

Assertions

Assertion Argument Place in source Search

The Foding zuisheng tuoluoni jing 佛頂最勝陀羅尼經 T969 (Uṣṇīṣavijaya-dhāraṇī) is ascribed to *Divākara 地婆訶羅, and the ascription is recorded in numerous Buddhist catalogues. Li argues that T969 is not in fact a translation. Instead, it is a text produced by revision of the Foding zunsheng tuoluoni jing 佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經 T968. On the basis of close examination of phraseology and style in T968 and T969, and comparing both with T967 and one early Sanskrit version of the Uṣṇīṣavijaya-dhāraṇī, Li finds that the revision strategies used to produce T969 include abbreviating terminology, rearranging word sequences, merging sentences into one concise statement, and omitting entire paragraphs. In this sense, Li concludes that T969 is a condensed revision of T968, which most likely was produced without consulting any new Indic Vorlage.

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 The Foding zuisheng tuoluoni jing 佛頂最勝陀羅尼經 T969 (Usnisavijaya-dharani) is ascribed to *Divakara 地婆訶羅, and the ascription is recorded in numerous Buddhist catalogues. Li argues that T969 is not in fact a translation. Instead, it is a text produced by revision of the Foding zunsheng tuoluoni jing 佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經 T968. On the basis of close examination of phraseology and style in T968 and T969, and comparing both with T967 and one early Sanskrit version of the Usnisavijaya-dharani, Li finds that the revision strategies used to produce T969 include abbreviating terminology, rearranging word sequences, merging sentences into one concise statement, and omitting entire paragraphs. In this sense, Li concludes that T969 is a condensed revision of T968, which most likely was produced without consulting any new Indic Vorlage. Anonymous (China), 失譯, 闕譯, 未詳撰者, 未詳作者, 不載譯人 T0969; 佛頂最勝陀羅尼經

Li argues that the Zuisheng Foding tuoluoni jingchu yezhang zhoujing 最勝佛頂陀羅尼淨除業障咒經 T970 (Uṣṇīṣavijaya-dhāraṇī) is an original composition produced in China. This view aligns with and extends a proposition by Sasaki (2005). Utilizing TACL, Li identifies a number of earlier Chinese sources used in the composition of T970, including the Da fangbian Fo bao’en jing 大方便佛報恩經 T156, the Za baozang jing 雜寶藏經 T203, the Chengzan jingtu Fo sheshou jing稱讚淨土佛攝受經 T367, the Shizi zhuangyanwang pusa qingwen jing師子莊嚴王菩薩請問經T486, the Shiyimian shenzhou xin jing 十一面神呪心經 T1071, and also previous Chinese versions of the Uṣṇīṣavijaya-dhāraṇī (T967-T968).

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 Li argues that the Zuisheng Foding tuoluoni jingchu yezhang zhoujing 最勝佛頂陀羅尼淨除業障咒經 T970 (Usnisavijaya-dharani) is an original composition produced in China. This view aligns with and extends a proposition by Sasaki (2005). Utilizing TACL, Li identifies a number of earlier Chinese sources used in the composition of T970, including the Da fangbian Fo bao’en jing 大方便佛報恩經 T156, the Za baozang jing 雜寶藏經 T203, the Chengzan jingtu Fo sheshou jing稱讚淨土佛攝受經 T367, the Shizi zhuangyanwang pusa qingwen jing師子莊嚴王菩薩請問經T486, the Shiyimian shenzhou xin jing 十一面神呪心經 T1071, and also previous Chinese versions of the Usnisavijaya-dharani (T967-T968). Anonymous (China), 失譯, 闕譯, 未詳撰者, 未詳作者, 不載譯人 T0970; 最勝佛頂陀羅尼淨除業障呪經

Li argues that Yijing’s Foding zunsheng tuoluoni jing 佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經 T971 (Uṣṇīṣavijaya-dhāraṇī) draws heavily on T967, with only minor word changes and a few paragraph insertions. On this basis, Li concludes that T971 is a revision copied from T967, which likely did not consult a new Indic Vorlage. Using TACL, Li identifies at least three textual inserts in T971 that are otherwise found only in other works by Yijing, supporting the idea that these insertions did not originate from a new Indic Vorlage. Furthermore, based on the specific revision style identified by TACL and other changes in wording in T971 compared to T967, Li proposes that Yijing’s team may have followed a deliberate scheme to integrate various sources and then revise and insert text in Yijing’s distinctive style. These preliminary insights into Yijing’s methodology call for a more thorough investigation of the texts traditionally attributed to him as translations.

Edit

 Li argues that Yijing’s Foding zunsheng tuoluoni jing 佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經 T971 (Usnisavijaya-dharani) draws heavily on T967, with only minor word changes and a few paragraph insertions. On this basis, Li concludes that T971 is a revision copied from T967, which likely did not consult a new Indic Vorlage. Using TACL, Li identifies at least three textual inserts in T971 that are otherwise found only in other works by Yijing, supporting the idea that these insertions did not originate from a new Indic Vorlage. Furthermore, based on the specific revision style identified by TACL and other changes in wording in T971 compared to T967, Li proposes that Yijing’s team may have followed a deliberate scheme to integrate various sources and then revise and insert text in Yijing’s distinctive style. These preliminary insights into Yijing’s methodology call for a more thorough investigation of the texts traditionally attributed to him as translations. Yijing, 義淨 T0971; 佛說佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經