2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
A Philological Study of the Earliest Chinese Translation of the Larger Sukhavativyuhasutra---in Comparison with the Sanskrit Old Fragments from Afghanistan
| Project/Area Number |
15520052
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Indian philosophy/Buddhist studies
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| Research Institution | Soka University |
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Principal Investigator |
KARASHIMA Seishi Soka University, The International Research Institute for Advanced Buddhology, Professor, 国際仏教学高等研究所, 教授 (80221894)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2003 – 2005
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| Keywords | Sukhavativyuhasutra / Lokaksema / Zhi Qian / Pureland Budhism / Middle Chinese / Buddhist Chinese / Daamituo jing |
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| Research Abstract |
I have studied and prepared an annotated Japanese translation of the oldest Chinese translation of the Larger Sukhavativyuhasutra, namely Amituo Sanyesanfo saloufotan Guodurendao jing 阿彌陀三耶三佛薩樓佛檀過度人道經(or Da Amituo jing 大阿彌陀經; incorrectly ascribed to Zhi Qian 支謙 in the traditional catalogues) by Lokaksema (fl.ca.170-190), comparing this mainly with the two other early Chinese translations - namely Wuliangqingjing Pingdengjue jing 無量清淨平等覺經(probably by Zhi Qian 支謙, fl.ca.220-257) and the Wuliangshou jing 無量壽經 (presumably translated in the first half of the fifth century)- as well as the Sanskrit version (based on manuscripts from Nepal), Sanskrit fragments from Afghanistan and the Tibetan translation. After three years' research, I have attained several findings, for example, (I) saloufotan 薩樓佛檀 of the long title of the text in question might be a corruption of elouxuan 〓楼亘(a transliteration of Avalokitasvara), then the title, which has been a longtime enigma, means probably "The scripture about Amitabha samyaksambuddha and Avalokitasvara liberating those in human existence," and (II) The original form of amituo 阿彌陀 was in all likelihood a Gandhari form of Amitabha "Limitless Light," such as ^*Amidaha, -ahu or -a'u, from which the new form Amitayus "Limitless Light" was subsequently coined.
I have published several articles concerning the text both in Japanese and Chinese as well as an annotated Japanese translation of the Sutra in series. However, as the Chinese of this text is difficult to understand, I need another few years to complete the annotated translation, an edition and glossary of the text. Based on such a comprehensive and thorough philological study of the text, it would be possible to pursue historical research on this and so to expand our understanding of early Mahayana Buddhism.
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Research Products
(20 results)
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[Journal Article] 『佛典漢語詞典』の構想2004
Author(s)
辛嶋静志
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Journal Title
中国宗教文献研究国際シンポジウム報告書 : 京都大学21世紀COEプログラム : 東アジア世界の人文情報学研究教育拠点 : 漢字文化の全き継承と発展のために
Pages: 9-15
Description
「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
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[Journal Article] A Project for a Buddhist Chinese Dictionary2004
Author(s)
KARASHIMA, Seishi
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Journal Title
Proceedings of the International Symposium : Religions in Chinese Script : Perspectives for Texual Research: November 18th-21st, 2004, Toward an Overall Inheritance and Development of Kanji Culture : East Asian Center for Informatics in Humanities, the 21st Century COE, Kyoto University. Institute for Research in Humanities(Kyoto University)(in Japanese)
Pages: 9-15
Description
「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
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