Author affiliation: The University of Texas at San Antonio
關鍵詞
Avalokiteśvara; Āgamas; the Dīpaṃkara Buddha story; Sumedha
摘要
Through intertextual analyses between the northern Āgamas, Ava-lokiteśvara’s (A.) iconography-quality, and the early A.-related texts, this research argues that A. is a composite character representing the Buddha’s entire bodhisattva aspect. His iconography is based on Sumedha in the Dīpaṃkara Buddha story; his title is based on the narrative through which the Buddha recounted how he surveyed the world upon awakening. They are respectively the starting point and the ending point of the Bodhisattva Path. The research also demonstrates that the eleven-headed A. is based on the eleven benefits of and the eleven directions in practicing the brahmavihāras (divine abidings). The research proposes that A.’s identity first became dissociated with the Buddha-to-be likely due to the Amitābha cult.
目次
Introduction 2 Early A.-related texts translated into Chinese 5 Theories on A.’s origin 8 A.’s iconography and quality 11 1. Probable early A. images 12 2. Definite A. images 14 Method, Texts, and their Validity and Reliability 16 1. Method 16 2. Texts 17 3. Validity and Reliability of Method and Texts 17 Intertextual analysis between A.’s iconography-quality and the northern Āgamas 19 1. Probable prototype of A. 19 2. Blue lotus flowers, matted hair of an ascetic, and the deerskin 24 3. The turbaned prince and the pensive bodhisattva 27 4. The compassionate Sumedha 32 A.’s title and the eleven-headed A. 36 1. The meaning of A.’s title 36 2. The eleven-headed A. and its probable Āgama origin 43 Discussion and Conclusion 46 Appendix 1: “A.’s iconography, quality, title and their sources in Chinese texts and the Jātaka-nidāna” 51 Bibliography 54
