宇宙觀=Cosmology; 十四無記; 阿育王=Asoka; 四大部洲=four continents; 六道輪迴=six conditions of sapient; 四劫=four intermediate kalpa; 無常觀=theory of impermanence; 解脫=liberation; 往世書=Purana; 施設論=kārmikā the school of karma which taught the superiority of morality over knowledge; 立世阿毘曇論; 孔雀王朝=Maurya Empire
The issues of cosmology in early Buddhism were mainly focused on group practices. Therefore Sakyamuni (563-483 B.C.) rarely answered those theoretical questions without contribution to the reality or liberation of life, such as Fourteen Avyakrta. However, as the Buddhism factions arose, each striving to expand in frontier (mleccha), the formation of metaphysics in Buddha beliefs to facilitate the development to a widely-spread and worldly religion became inevitable. Therefore relevant non-Buddhism sutras such as Purana were essential references. 《長阿含．世紀經》was a natural product corresponded to the demand and could be treadted as Purana of Buddhism. Meanwhile, two sutras, 《立世阿毘曇論》and 《施設論》, each promoted its belief and developed due to their common grounds with《長阿含．世紀經》.
The above three sutras were among the most important ones in studying the history and development of cosmology in Buddhism. Establishing Buddhism theoretical system of its own, these sutras elaborated the formation and condition of this world; the cycle of the creation, development and decline of the Universe; human’s origins; and royal sovereign in ruling people and society ---- all these further developed into metaphysics in Buddha beliefs around the era of Maurya Empire when King Aśoka was on the throne. During this period, Buddhism had evolved from early group practice aiming at morality and liberation of subject toward a religion, and even the official religion of a nation.
This thesis will cover several main themes in the above three sutras such as: the relationship between the Fourteen Avyakrta of the early Buddhism and the cosmology of Buddhism; the establishment of the four continents in times of King Aśoka; the philosophy of the Space in the theory of the pañca gatayah and the theory of life cycle in the six conditions of sapient; the philosophy of time in the theory of the four intermediate kalpa of the Universe; the insight of subject’s moral practice inspired by the theory of impermanence. These issues will be elaborated in the following context.
