Mind the Hermeneutical Gap: A Terminological Issue in Kumārajīva’s Version of the Diamond Sutra

Book section

The Jingang banruoboluomi jing 金剛般若波羅蜜經 T 235, translated by Kumārajīva at the beginning of the 5th century CE, is the earliest and most influential of the six Chinese versions of the Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā. No doubt it can be regarded as the Chinese Diamond Sutra par excellence: almost all of the numerous Chinese commentaries devoted to this scripture (which constitute a rich source for exploring the reception of this text in China) are based on Kumārajīva’s version. This article focuses on the use of the term xiang 相 in this translation and in some related commentaries, showing how Kumārajīva’s creative translation technique exerted a profound influence on the Chinese understanding of this Mahāyāna scripture.

Authors: Zacchetti, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: 佛光大學佛教研究中心 - Fóguāng dàxué fójiào yánjiū zhōngxīn
• Host title: Hanchuan fojiao yanjiu de guoqu xianzai weilai – Chinese Buddhism: Past, Present and Future
• Pages: 157-194
• Publication date: 2015-04-01
• ISBN: 9789579583886
• Keywords: Jingang banruoboluomi jing 金剛般若波羅蜜經; xiang 相; nimitta; Kumārajīva; Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā; lakṣaṇa; saṃjñā; translated terminology