On the Interpretation of the Three Natures in the Chinese Yogācāra

Abstract

There were various interpretations of the three nature theory by the Shelun school, which was based on the Mahāyānasaṃgrahabhāṣya (She Dasheng lun shi 摂大乗論釈) translated by Paramārtha in China during the Sui dynasty. During the Tang dynasty, the interpretation of the three natures by the Weishi school became the mainstream, but the process of the establishment of their interpretation was unclear, because there were several models of the three natures contained in the Yogācāra texts translated by Xuanzang 玄奘. To ascertain his aims in translation and the way of acceptance of the school, I will compare the three-natures theories of the following texts.

Mahāyānasaṃgrahabhāṣya (T no. 1598) by Asvabhāva translated in 647–649

Mahāyānasaṃgrahabhāṣya (T no. 1597) by Asaṅga translated in 648–649

Cheng weishi lun 成唯識論 (T no. 1585) by Dharmapāla translated in 659

There are three interpretations about the three natures in the Cheng weishi lun, attributed to Nantuo 難陀, Sthiramati, and Dharmapāla. As its equivalent in the Mahāyānasaṃgraha, there is one interpretation by Asaṅga’s interpretation and three by Asvabhāva. Comparing them, the following correspondences are found.

Cheng weishi lun           Mahāyānasaṃgrahabhāṣya

Nantuo’s interpretation    ―――― Asaṅga’s interpretation

Sthiramati’s interpretation  ―――― Asvabhāva’s 1st interpretation

Dharmapāla’s interpretation ―――― Asvabhāva’s 2nd interpretation

Xuanzang asserts that we should depend on Sthiramati’s and Dharmapāla’s interpretations more than Nantuo’s interpretation, and should also rely on Dharmapāla’s interpretation more than Sthiramati’s in the Cheng weishi lun. When he was translating the Mahāyānasaṃgrahabhāṣya, Xuanzang was probably trying to make the point that Asvabhāva’s newly introduced interpretation should be emphasized, and sought to devalorize the Asaṅga and Shelun interpretations based on it. But the scholars of the Weishi school did make a conclusive determination of which interpretation was to be followed, resulting in subsequent confusion. Thus, in translating the Cheng weishi lun, Xuanzang had to specify which interpretation should be taken as orthodox. The interpretation of the three natures by the Weishi school was formed from these circumstances.