Tao-sheng's Commentary on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-Sūtra: A Study and Translation

Dissertation

Abstract

This dissertation provides a comprehensive study and complete translation of Tao-sheng's Commentary on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra (CSPS). This document occupies an important place in Chinese Buddhist literature. Its significance in the study of Chinese Buddhism can be described in two ways. Firstly, the CSPS was the first commentary ever written on the Lotus Sūtra, which was to become a scripture of fundamental importance on the Far Eastern Buddhist scene, especially for the later Chinese Buddhist schools. Furthermore, it was the first commentary on any Buddhist scripture that was written in Chinese and structured in fully developed commentarial form. The CSPS set a pattern in many ways for later Buddhists to follow in terms of both structure and ideology.
      Secondly, the CSPS is a rich source of Tao-sheng's seminal ideas. Tao-sheng (ca. 360-434) has been regarded, both in his time and subsequently, as a uniquely creative and prophetic thinker. The CSPS, the only writing of Tao-sheng preserved in complete form, is essential to any study of Tao-sheng's own original thought. Most of his theses and arguments, which were controversial in his day, were originally propounded in his other writings, but the commentary may provide at least the general structure of Tao-sheng's thought.
      The thesis is composed of two main portions: "Study" (Part I-IV) and "Translation" (Part V). Part I sets out and clarifies the problems involved in the study of Tao-sheng, the aims and method of the present study. Part II as the introductory step to the main task involving the CSPS extensively examines Tao-sheng as a whole as reflected in other sources, in terms of his background, historical and biographical, his works, his doctrines, and his influence. Part III is devoted to a critical examination of the CSPS proper. Here I undertake an in-depth analysis in several different ways in respect with both form and content, or language and ideology. The analysis focuses on how Tao-sheng renders, successfully or otherwise, the ancient Indian system of religious thought into the current Chinese language, which was already laden with indigenous philosophical connotations. Here I also trace and reconstruct Tao-sheng's thought incorporated in the commentary in accordance with his distinct themes. Part IV reviews the findings and significance of the study conducted. In brief, the thesis is the first full-scale study of Tao-sheng and the commentary.
      Finally, a complete translation of the text is presented along with detailed annotations including the classical sources of Chinese philosophical terms used and numerous corruptions of the text. In light of the significance of Tao-sheng and the CSPS, the translation answers the need for a complete translation of the text into a modern language and will serve as a basis for further study.

Citation	Kim, Young-ho. "Tao-sheng's Commentary on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-Sūtra: A Study and Translation." PhD diss., McMaster University, 1985.

ABSTRACTiii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSvi

PART I: AIMS AND METHOD1
NOTES TO PART I16

PART II: INTRODUCTION20
- A. Tao-sheng's Pre-history: the State of Buddhist Studies in China20
- B. Tao-sheng's Biography36
  - 1. Biographical Sources36
  - 2. Tao-sheng's Life38
    - a. Early Years in Chien-k'ang under Chu Fa-t'ai38
    - b. The First Sojourn at Lu-shan with Hui-yüan40
    - c. Study with Kumārajīva in Ch'ang-an43
    - d. Return to Lu-shan45
    - e. The Second Sojourn at Chien-k'ang46
    - f. The Third Sojourn at Lu-shan and Death47
    - g. Evaluation of Tao-sheng's Life48
- C. Tao-sheng's Works53
- D. Tao-sheng's Doctrines60
  - 1. Sudden Enlightenment61
  - 2. The Buddha-nature and Related Ideas74
  - 3. Miscellaneous84
    - a. The Good Deed Entails No Retribution85
    - b. There is No Pure Land in [the Realm of] the Buddha89
    - c. The Dharmakāya is Formless94
    - d. On the Two Truths101
- E. Tao-sheng's Influence and the Impact of his Doctrines106
  - 1. The Doctrine of Sudden Enlightenment107
    - a. The Contemporary and Following Period107
    - b. Tao-sheng's Doctrine and the Ch'an School111
    - c. Tao-sheng's Doctrine and the Hua-yen School121
  - 2. The Doctrine of Buddha-nature125
  - 3. Tao-sheng and Other Schools129
    - a. Tao-sheng and the T'ien-t'ai School129
    - b. Tao-sheng and the San-lun School133
- NOTES TO PART II137

PART III: A CRITICAL STUDY OF TAO-SHENG'S COMMENTARY ON
THE SADDHARMAPUṆḌARĪKA156
- A. Tao-sheng and the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka156
- B. Literary Aspects163
  - 1. Structure163
    - a. General163
    - b. Preface164
    - c. Interpretation of Chapters 1–27165
  - 2. Style and Exegetical Method167
    - a. Style167
    - b. Exegetical Method169
  - 3. Vocabulary: The Language of the Text with Special Reference to Neo-Taoism171
    - a. Introduction171
    - b. Analysis of the Concepts174
      - (1) Li174
      - (2) Fen180
      - (3) The Role of Language183
      - (4) The "Sage" and Related Terms188
      - (5) The Emotional Factor207
      - (6) Lei212
      - (7) One Ultimate214
      - (8) Middle Way (Chung-tao)218
      - (9) Tao222
    - c. Concluding Remarks224
- C. Central Ideas228
  - 1. Main Themes228
  - 2. An Overview of the Internal Stucture of the Commentary via the
    Term Li235
    - a. Introduction235
    - b. Syntactical and Contextual Position237
    - c. Predicates, Properties, and Epistemic Implications239
    - d. Li Viewed in Connection with Other Concepts242
    - e. Li and the Process of Enlightenment256
    - f. Concluding Remarks264
- D. Traces of Tao-sheng's Doctrines268
  - 1. Sudden Enlightenment269
  - 2. Buddha-nature274
  - 3. Miscellaneous275
- E. Select Chapters for a Comprehensive Textual Analysis283
  - 1. Chapter 3284
  - 2. Chapter 15301
  - 3. Chapter 24308
  - 4. Summary and Conclusion311
- NOTES TO PART III317

PART IV: CONCLUSION339
- NOTES TO PART IV346

PART V: TRANSLATION348
- Preface348
- Roll the First (Chapts. 1–4)352
- Roll the Second (Chapts. 5–27)453
- NOTES TO TRANSLATION535
ABBREVIATIONS580
BIBLIOGRAPHY581

Daosheng. 妙法蓮花經疏 Miao fa lien hua ching shu (Commentary on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, CSPS). Hsü Tsang Ching, (Taiwanese edition), vol. 150 (the text of the present study and translation). Also found in Zōku-zōkyo, nr. 577; Dai-Nihon Zōku-zōkyo (New Edition) nr. 577 (vol. 9).