As is well-known, the Six Characteristics (六相), originating from the Dasabhumika-sutra (DBh), are used as the method of annotation in the DBhV. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the interpretation of the Six Characteristics in the DBhV, specifically focusing on the Fifth Characteristic (vivarta,成相) and the Sixth Characteristic (samvarta, 壊相)by comparing a Tibetan version with a Chinese version.
We can find a transfiguration between the equivalent Tibetan and Chinese versions. That is, vivarta and samvarta are translated as 'du ba (to assemble) and rgyas pa (to spread) in the Tibetan version, whereas vivarta translates as evolution(成相) and samvarta translates as destruction (壊相)in the Chinese version. This transfiguration brings a difference in interpretation of vivarta and samvarta in commentaries of the DBhV. Furthermore, misinterpretations of vivarta and samvarta can be seen in current studies of the Six Characteristics due to a use of both versions but a lack of consideration regarding the aforementioned transfiguration.
