Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>

By examining the variants in the Dunhuang manuscripts and carving versions of the Guanding version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i> (<i>Guanding Bachuguozui Shengsidedu Jing</i>, 灌頂拔除過罪生死得度經, Chapter 12 of <i>Sutra on Abhiṣeka</i> (<i>Guanding Jing&l...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Minhui Zheng, Xiang Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/12/1510
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846102908163063808
author Minhui Zheng
Xiang Hong
author_facet Minhui Zheng
Xiang Hong
author_sort Minhui Zheng
collection DOAJ
description By examining the variants in the Dunhuang manuscripts and carving versions of the Guanding version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i> (<i>Guanding Bachuguozui Shengsidedu Jing</i>, 灌頂拔除過罪生死得度經, Chapter 12 of <i>Sutra on Abhiṣeka</i> (<i>Guanding Jing</i> 灌頂經), we can categorize it into five different editions based on the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra: (1) without the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the mantra, (2) with the names from the earlier translation, but without the mantra, (3) with the names from the later translation, but without the mantra, (4) with the names from the earlier translation and with the mantra, and (5) with the names from the later translation and with the mantra. These editions reflect the diachronic evolution of the Guanding version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>. The names of the eight bodhisattvas in the earlier translation first appeared in <i>The Eight Lucky Mystical Mantra Sutra</i> (<i>Bajixiang Shenzhou Jing</i>, 八吉祥神咒經), translated by Zhiqian (支謙, dates unknown) during the Three Kingdoms period. These bodhisattvas were atypical, including laymen and heavenly kings, rather than conventional enlightened figures. In contrast, the names from the later translation include well-known figures such as Avalokitesvara and Maitreya, selected by the compilers of the Guanding version. Notably, there is no direct connection between the earlier and later translations of the eight bodhisattvas’ names. Regarding the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra, the Guanding version is the earliest known version, which has undergone three expansions. The names of the Buddha, including tathāgatāya (多他伽多耶), bhagavate (薄伽筏帝), arhate (阿囉𠿒帝), and saṃyaksaṃbuddhāya (三藐三勃陀也), were subsequently added to the final edition by Yijing (義浄, 635–713).
format Article
id doaj-art-1fec87de6057478faf75bf7a0c345c7b
institution Kabale University
issn 2077-1444
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Religions
spelling doaj-art-1fec87de6057478faf75bf7a0c345c7b2024-12-27T14:50:30ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442024-12-011512151010.3390/rel15121510Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>Minhui Zheng0Xiang Hong1College of Chinese Language and Literature, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaCentre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaBy examining the variants in the Dunhuang manuscripts and carving versions of the Guanding version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i> (<i>Guanding Bachuguozui Shengsidedu Jing</i>, 灌頂拔除過罪生死得度經, Chapter 12 of <i>Sutra on Abhiṣeka</i> (<i>Guanding Jing</i> 灌頂經), we can categorize it into five different editions based on the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra: (1) without the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the mantra, (2) with the names from the earlier translation, but without the mantra, (3) with the names from the later translation, but without the mantra, (4) with the names from the earlier translation and with the mantra, and (5) with the names from the later translation and with the mantra. These editions reflect the diachronic evolution of the Guanding version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>. The names of the eight bodhisattvas in the earlier translation first appeared in <i>The Eight Lucky Mystical Mantra Sutra</i> (<i>Bajixiang Shenzhou Jing</i>, 八吉祥神咒經), translated by Zhiqian (支謙, dates unknown) during the Three Kingdoms period. These bodhisattvas were atypical, including laymen and heavenly kings, rather than conventional enlightened figures. In contrast, the names from the later translation include well-known figures such as Avalokitesvara and Maitreya, selected by the compilers of the Guanding version. Notably, there is no direct connection between the earlier and later translations of the eight bodhisattvas’ names. Regarding the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra, the Guanding version is the earliest known version, which has undergone three expansions. The names of the Buddha, including tathāgatāya (多他伽多耶), bhagavate (薄伽筏帝), arhate (阿囉𠿒帝), and saṃyaksaṃbuddhāya (三藐三勃陀也), were subsequently added to the final edition by Yijing (義浄, 635–713).https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/12/1510<i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>Guanding versionnames of the eight bodhisattvasBhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra
spellingShingle Minhui Zheng
Xiang Hong
Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
Religions
<i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
Guanding version
names of the eight bodhisattvas
Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra
title Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
title_full Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
title_fullStr Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
title_full_unstemmed Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
title_short Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
title_sort examining the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the bhaisajyaguru buddha mantra in the guanding version of the i bhaisajyaguru buddha sutra i
topic <i>Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra</i>
Guanding version
names of the eight bodhisattvas
Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/12/1510
work_keys_str_mv AT minhuizheng examiningthenamesoftheeightbodhisattvasandthebhaisajyagurubuddhamantraintheguandingversionoftheibhaisajyagurubuddhasutrai
AT xianghong examiningthenamesoftheeightbodhisattvasandthebhaisajyagurubuddhamantraintheguandingversionoftheibhaisajyagurubuddhasutrai