The Dispute over Buddha-Nature in the Yuzhu Jingang Borejing Xuanyan 御注金剛般若経宣演

Abstract

“The Dispute over Buddha-Nature” which arose at the beginning of the Tang dynasty originated when Xuanzang (602–664), having returned from his pilgrimage to India, introduced to China the theory of the Five Natures through his translations of the Yogācārabhūmi and the Fodi jinglun. However, although it is known that Lingrun (霊潤 580–667?), Shentai (神泰, d.u.), Yirong (義栄, d.u.), Ji (基, 632- 683), Wŏnch’ŭk (円測, 613–696), Fabao (法宝627?–706–710?), Fazang (法蔵, 643–712), Huizhao (慧沼, 648–714), Dingbin (定賓, 8th c.) and Biankong (弁空, ?–788–?) participated in the doctrinal dispute, there are still many points unknown regarding how the dispute developed after Fazang and Huizhao had passed away.

In the Yuzhu Jingang Borejing Xuanyan (御注金剛般若経宣演), the dispute over Buddha-Nature is separated into three differing interpretations: 1) “The Theory that all attain Buddhhood,” 2) “The Theory that there are those who do not attain Buddahood” and 3) “The Theory that the Buddha did not determine which is correct.” In the section explaining these three interpretations the text offers the doctrines used as proof for each interpretation, together with a simple question and answer explanation of each.

This paper examines the Yuzhu Jingang Borejing Xuanyan and clarifies the following two points: 1) Regarding “The Theory that all attain Buddhhood,” it is clear that the text uses Fabao’s Yisheng foxing jiujinglun (一乗仏性究竟論) as an influential reference; 2) Regarding “The Theory that the Buddha did not determine which is correct,” the text offers a new interpretation that appeared after the first two were already established.