初唐時期佛性論爭的兩個相關論題 -- 定性二乘和變易生死=Two Controversial Topics in the Buddha-nature Debates of Early Tang: "Two Vehicles of Determinate Lineage" and "Existence qua Transformation"
佛性=Buddha-nature; 定性二乘=two vehicles of determinate lineage; 變易生死=existence qua transformation; 分段生死=delimited existence; 判教=classification of teachings
"Buddha-nature" is a central theme in Chinese Buddhist thought. Ddbates about various aspects of the theme arose in the fifth century, and came to a head in Early Tang (late seventh and early eight century). The paper focuses on two controversial topics in the Buddha-nature debates of Early Tang: 1. Whether there are sentient beings of "two vehicles of determinate lineage" who can never attain Buddhahood. 2. Whether "existence qua transformation" is a form of "delimited existence" or another form of sentient existence. The paper is comprised of five sections. Section One describes the theoretical background and the significance of the concepts of "two vehicles of determinate lineage" and "existence qua transformation" as found in Indian Buddhist texts. Section Two examines how Xuanzang (ca. 602-644) and Kuiji (632-682), founders of the Faxiang School, affirmed the existence of "two vehicles of determinate lineage, " and as a consequence, interpreted "existence qua transformation" as the extension of the span of "delimited existence." Section Three and Section Four, the central part of the puper, examine in detail in turn Fabao's (ca. 627-705) criticisms of the Faxiang opinions about these two topics, and Huizhao's (648-714) countercriticisms in defense of the Faxiang position. Section Five, the conclusion, highlights how controversies over the two topics reflected some of the basic features of the Buddha-nature debates of Early Tang.
