Site mapAbout usConsultative CommitteeAsk LibrarianContributionCopyrightCitation GuidelineDonationHome        

CatalogAuthor AuthorityGoogle
Search engineFulltextScripturesLanguage LessonsLinks
 


Extra service
Tools
Export
From Meditation Teachings to Exegetical Grid: Transmission and Development of the 'Six Aspects of Ānāpānasmṛti' in Chinese Buddhism
Author Hou, Xiao-ming (著)
Source Journal Asiatique
Volumev.309 n.2
Date2021
Pages249 - 273
PublisherLa Societe Asiatique
LocationParis, France [巴黎, 法國]
Content type期刊論文=Journal Article
Language英文=English
NoteAuthor affiliation: University of California, Berkeley
AbstractTaking the example of the “six aspects of mindfulness of breathing” (anban liushi 安般六事, ānāpānasmṛti), the present study traces the history of its translation, circulation and transformation from the second to the sixth century in China. It shows that the six headings in the list, after being variously translated, lost stable reference to a set of definite meditation practices. Benefitting from the linguistic potential of the six Chinese terms, they were used as an exegetical grid to freely guide the development of new practices as well as to interpret other transmitted teachings. The content thus elaborated far exceeded the boundaries of ānāpānasmṛti. The analysis of this process of elaboration shows that the composition of texts on the subject of meditation is not always primarily concerned with elaborating an ideologically or phenomenologically coherent experience. Instead, the development of new teachings can be merely a by-product of the demonstration of a method of intellectual reflection. The act of elaboration itself, which is primarily concerned with philological and linguistic coherence, may rightly prevail over the content elaborated. Finally, I call attention to the importance of the use of mātṛkā in Chinese Buddhist exegesis, as well as the formative role that language, in this case Chinese, can play during this process.

Prenant l’exemple des « six aspects de la contemplation sur la respiration » (anban liushi 安般六事, ānāpānasmṛti), la présente étude retrace l’histoire de sa traduction, circulation et transformation du IIe au VIe siècle en Chine. Elle montre que les six intitulés de la liste, après avoir été diversement traduits, ont perdu toute référence stable à un ensemble de pratiques de méditation. Profitant de leur polyvalence en langue chinoise, ils ont été utilisés comme grille exégétique pour guider librement le développement de nouvelles pratiques ainsi que pour interpréter d’autres enseignements transmis, dont le contenu dépasse largement les limites d’ānāpānasmṛti. L’analyse de cette élaboration montre que les textes sur le sujet de la méditation ne sont pas toujours conçus pour élaborer une expérience idéologiquement ou phénoménologiquement cohérente. En revanche, le développement des nouveaux enseignements pourrait simplement être le sous-produit issu de la démonstration d’une méthode de réflexion intellectuelle. L’acte même de l’élaboration, qui se préoccupe principalement de la cohérence philologique et linguistique, pourrait à juste titre prévaloir sur le contenu élaboré. Finalement, on attire également l’attention sur l’importance de l’utilisation des mātṛkā dans l’exégèse du bouddhisme chinois, ainsi que sur le rôle formateur que la langue, en l’occurrence le chinois, peut jouer au cours de ce processus.
Table of contentsAbstract 249
Résumé 249
The "Six Aspects of Ānāpānasmṛti" List and Its Translation in China 251
1. Overview: Translation and Interpretation 251
2. List Matching and Exegetical Function: The First Attempt 255
3. The Rising Need for Organization and the Stabilization of Representation 256
Zhiyi's Six Gates Meditation 258
1. Semantic Shifts 260
2. The Exegetical Grid and the Twelve Gates 261
3. Six Elements as Exegetical Grid: the Process of Redefinition 263
a. The Six Gates According to the Contemplation of the Mind 263
b. The Fifth Section: the Six Gates According to Their Mutual Inclusion 264
c. The Six Gates Leading to the Four Dhyāna 264
d. The Six Gates According to the Perfect Contemplation 265
"Six Gates" and "Six-Character Dhāraṇī" 266
Conclusion 269
Bibliography 271
ISSN0021762X (P); 17831504 (E)
DOI10.2143/JA.309.2.3290269
Hits56
Created date2023.08.04
Modified date2023.08.04



Best viewed with Chrome, Firefox, Safari(Mac) but not supported IE

Notice

You are leaving our website for The full text resources provided by the above database or electronic journals may not be displayed due to the domain restrictions or fee-charging download problems.

Record correction

Please delete and correct directly in the form below, and click "Apply" at the bottom.
(When receiving your information, we will check and correct the mistake as soon as possible.)

Serial No.
678815

Search History (Only show 10 bibliography limited)
Search Criteria Field Codes
Search CriteriaBrowse