Abstract
In the Etadagga vagga of the Anguttara Nikaya (AN. I, pp. 23-26) appear many names of “the excellent disciples”—those who possessed special skills or characteristics. For example, Sariputta was renowed for his profound wisdom. The excellent disciples include not only monks, but also nuns and laity. We find two other Chinese texts which correspond to the Etadagga vagga. They are the Ekottarika Agama (T. 2, pp. 557a-560c) and Aluohan jude jing (_??__??__??__??__??__??_) (T. 2 pp. 831a-834b). The three sources do mention these excellent disciples, although the numbers of excellent disciples mentioned differ. However, after a comparative study on the excellent disciples' names and skills, it can be said that these texts belong to the same origin.
In addition, the Manorathapurani and the Fenbie gongde lun (_??__??__??__??__??_), the commentaries on the Etadagga vagga and the Ekottarika Agama respectively, include life stories of these excellent disciples, and they are also based on the same original source.
The stories of the excellent disciples exemplify the ideal Buddhist community where, as pointed out in the Etadagga vagga, monks' and nuns' role is to transmit Lord Buddha's teaching to the next generation, and laity's role is to give the Buddhist order their support.
