An Inquiry into Differences between India and China/Japan regarding Vijnaptimatravada Thought, Using Xuanzang's Philosophical Transformation as a Criterion

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00047
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01020:Chinese philosophy, Indian philosophy and Buddhist philosophy-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: SAKUMA Hidenori 筑波大学, 人文社会系(名誉教授), 名誉教授 (90225839)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 玄奘 / インド唯識思想 / 中国唯識教学 / 日本法相教学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Indian Vijnaptimatravada thought prior to Xuanzang’s visit to India can be inferred from extant Sanskrit texts (and their Tibetan translations). Further new developments up until Xuanzang’s visit can be seen in his translation of Asvabhava’s commentary on the Mahayanasamgraha, translated soon after his return to China. These developments can be found in sections where Xuanzang added ideas not found in the Tibetan translation. In his subsequent translation of the Buddhabhumisastra there were also added many ideas not found in the Tibetan translation, and he modified some of the ideas presented in his earlier translation of Asvabhava’s commentary on the Mahayana¬samgraha. Furthermore, these modified ideas developed into the orthodox views of subsequent Faxiang doctrine. It has been possible to clarify with considerable precision through Xuanzang’s translations how his thinking changed over time.

Free Research Field

インド学仏教学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来中国唯識教学と日本法相教学の内容はインド唯識思想と同等と信じられ、唯識法相教学を遡る形でインド唯識思想が理解されてきた。ところが両者に思想的な開きがあることが近年解ってきた。その変化の中心にいるのが玄奘であることを実証的に研究することはまれであった。本研究によってインドと中国・日本の異質性を生んだのが玄奘自身の思想的変貌であることの解明できたことは学術的意義がある。さらにはインドの考え方と中国および日本の考え方の違いも、玄奘の思想的変貌を見ることで感じ取れるようになったことには社会的意義がある。