This paper discusses the religious importance of Faxian receiving the novice (śrāmaṇera) precepts early in life, his travel to the West in search of Dharma as an adult, his engagement in translating Buddhist scriptures after returning to China, and his relocation to Xin Monastery in later life. The focus of discussion is the significance of Faxian’s search, translation and propagation of Buddhist precepts during his lifetime. Furthermore, the current paper points out potential fallacies of some common claims about Faxian’s biography. From this, it investigates the practice and spread of Chinese Buddhist precepts during the Jin and Song dynasties.
目次
Receiving Novice Precepts Regarded as a Means of Preventing Premature Death for Young Children from the Fourth Century Onwards 326 The Dates of Faxian and the Age at Which He Travelled to the West in Search of the Vinaya 336 Xin Monastery and Faxian’s Vinaya Propagation Activities Later in Life 352 Conclusion 365
