The Jingang banruoboluomi jing 金剛般若波羅蜜經 T8, no. 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.
目次
Abstract 157 I. Introductory remarks 158 II. The use of xiàng 相 in Kumārajīva's translation of the Vajracchedikā 160 III. Extemporaneous jottings on the use of xiàng 相 in Kumārajīva's works 171 IV. The hermeneutical reverberation of a creative translation: xiàng 相 in Chinese commentaries on the Diamond Sutra 176 V. Conclusions 186 Abbreviations 188 Bibliography 190
