《增一阿含經》=Zeng-yi A-han Jing (Ekottarika-āgama); 《佛教百科全書》詞條=Entry of the Encyclopaedia of Buddhism (edited by Malasekera, G.P.); 無著比丘=Bhikkhu Anālayo; 田光烈=Tian Guang-Lie; 大乘元素=elements of Mahāyana Buddhism
The ‘Zeng-yi A-han Jing’ entry written by Tian Guang-Lie ( 田光烈 , 1912-2007), at 1955, for the Encyclopaedia of Buddhism (edited by Malalasekera, G. P.) was not accepted by this very book eventually. Finally it was collected as one of entries of the Zhong-guo Fo-Jiao ( 中國佛教 , printed at 1989). Roughly speaking, the literal style of this entry is plain and straightforward, it simply digests a brief for each sutra chapter by chapter. We can not find any comparative studies and comments of them. The ‘Zeng-yi A-han Jing’ entry accepted by this very Encyclopaedia is written by Bhikkhu Anālayo ( 無著比丘 ), while it does not take up contents of each sutra. It focuses on main topics of the Zeng-yi A-han Jing, such as translator, school affiliation, elements of Mahāyana Buddhism, later insertion(s), and details other than that of its Pāli counterparts. Based on my own guess, the reason why the Encyclopaedia does not keep both entries must have been due to its editorial guidelines instead of a choice of winner and loser.
Here I would like to introduce both entries composed by Tian Guang-Lie and Bhikkhu Anālayo respectively. Issues of ‘memory loss due to recitation’ and ‘later compilation after translation’ are also highlighted as the reference for future Encyclopaedia.
