This research is an annotated translation and research on the first half of the chapter on This research is an annotated translation and research on the first half of the chapter on Shrine-Worship in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā. The purpose of this research is to discuss the significant concepts in the chapter on Shrine-Worship based on the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā and its seven ancient classical chinese translated editions. In conducting this annotated translation research, the researcher involved the annotated translating of the first half of the chapter on Shrine-Worship in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā with a comparison with all seven ancient classical chinese translated editions. Moreover, based on this annotated translation, the analysis of the relationship between Shrine-Worship and Sutra-Worship will be presented. The first chapter of the thesis consists of motivation, research methodology, literature review and thesis structure. In the second chapter, the significant concepts in the chapter on Shrine-Worship will be examined, including the meanings of Shrine-Worship, Three-Jewels -Worship, and the concepts of merits. Then, the annotated translating of the first half of the chapter on Shrine-Worship in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā with a comparison with all seven ancient classical chinese translated editions will be presented in the third chapter. Also, the differences between these editions and the analysis of the possible reasons will be covered. The fourth chapter is the conclusion, providing research results, research limitation, and possible future research suggestions. In short, as the Buddhist people’s requirements of any objects which enabled them to hold their memories and faith towards the Buddha became more and more desperate, the sacred objects of worship representing the Buddha, including the statues and shrines, gradually appeared, whereas in the preceding periods the Buddha statues are not allowed in the mainstream Buddhim. In defiance of this trend of Shrine-Worship, the compilers of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā avocated the new worship ways, that is, to replace the old Shrine-Worship with the new Prajñāpāramitā-Sutra-Worship. Thus, the Sutra-Worship became the focus of worship instead of Shrine-Worship at that time. Utilizing the concepts of the Three-Jewels-Worship in the early Buddhim, the compilers delicately replaced the old objects of worship of Three Jewels with the new objects of worship of Sutras, thus making a new milestone in this chapter on Shrine-Worship.
