A Study and Analysis on Some Questions Related to the Sutra in Forty-two Sections

Abstract

The Sutra in Forty-two Sections (四十二章經) was an essential text related to Buddhist Chinese history during the late Han Dynasty. Some scholars regarded this text as the first Indian Buddhist sutra to be translated into Chinese. Others, however, argue that it was compiled much later by the Chinese, rather than translated by foreign monks during the Han Dynasty.This article aimed to study and analyze the arguments related to the authenticity of the text by both date and content. Evidence from Chinese historical-biographical works such as the Chu sanzangji ji (出三藏記集) and the Gaoseng zhuan (高僧傳), as well as various related pieces of research, were used to examine the text. Research focusing on Chinese Buddhist scripture has really rarely been used in Thai academic circles. The results showed that although it was difficult to trace back to the exact date when the Sutra in Forty-two Sections was translated, corroborating evidence was still able to express that the text already appeared in Chinese history during the late Han dynasty. The content of the original text contained only concepts of the earliest Buddhism. In contrast, the revised texts involved various ideas including Mahayana and Zen Buddhism, as well as Chinese philosophy.