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Volumes 1042-10431

K 1172 (XXXIV:97) (T. 191) (H. 190)

Translation by Fa-hsien: 10th month, 2nd year of Tuan Kung (端拱), Northern Sung dynasty (北宋) (A.D. 989).2 All translations by Fa-hsien were written between the 2nd year of Tuan Kung (端拱) and the 2nd year of Hsien P'ing (咸平), Northern Sung dynasty (北宋) (A.D.989-999).3

Note: There is much discussion about the identity of Fa-hsien. The Fo tsu t'ung chi (佛祖統記) by Chih-p'an (志磐) states that Fa-t'ien (法天) (Dharmadeva) changed his name to Fa-hsien.4 The compilers of the Hōbōgirin5 and such scholars as Chou Hsiang-kuang, author of A History of Chinese Buddhism6 have adopted this idea for the suggestion that the two names refer to the same person. However, Ono7 following the Ta chung hsiang fu fa pao lu (大中祥符法寳錄)8 believes that T'ien Hsi-tsai (天息災) changed his name to Fa-hsien and therefore the identification should be made between these later two rather than with Fa-t'ien. This reference to T'ien Hsi-tsai is strengthened by the evidence that the only reference to the death date of T'ien Hsi-tsai is found in the Pu hsü kao seng chuan (補續高僧傳) i.e. the 8th month, 3rd year of Hsien Ping (咸平) (A.D. 1000). This is also the date given for Fa-hsien's death9 and different by one year from that of Fa-t'ien (1001A.D).10 To add to the confusion, the posthumous name for Fa-t'ien is Ming-chiao Ta-shih (明教大師), the same as that given to T'ien-hsi tsai.11

1. Vol. 1042 ch. 1-10 鄕; Vol. 1043 ch.11-13 戸.

2. Ta chung lu vol.6, p.13b; vol. 7, p.5b-13a.

3. Ono. 12:183a.

4. T. 2035-399c:7.

5. Hōbōgirin p. 138b.

6. Chou, Hsiang-kuang, A History of Chinese Buddhism (Allahabad, 1956) p. 163.

7. Ono.13:182-183.

8. Ta chung lu vol.7, p.5b-13a.

9. Ono.12:p.128b.

10. Ibid, p.183a.

11. Ibid.


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