Qiánshì sānzhuǎn jīng 前世三轉經
Sūtra on the Three Past-Life Transformations by 法炬 (Fǎjù, 譯)
About the work
A short single-fascicle jātaka / avadāna on the doctrine of karmic transmigration through three previous-life states, framed as a Buddha-discourse at Jetavana to an assembly of five hundred bhikṣu-arhats. Translated by 法炬 Fǎjù (*Dharma-bhāṇaka), a Western-Jìn translator. Signature (with Taishō apparatus glosses): 「西晉沙門法炬譯」.
Prefaces
No preface or postface; only the canonical translator-signature.
Abstract
T178 is one of Fǎjù’s documented Western-Jìn translations from the late third / early fourth century; Fǎjù’s recorded translation period is c. 290–307 CE at Luòyáng. The Indic source is unidentified; the jātaka is a relatively short karmic-illustration narrative rather than a formally-named avadāna of the standard collections.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.
Links
- CBETA online text
- Fǎjù (法炬) DILA
- Kanseki DB
- Dazangthings date evidence (299): Fei Changfang 費長房. Lidai sanbao ji (LDSBJ) 歷代三寶紀 (KR6r0011) T2034 (XLIX) 67c16, 113b13 — dazangthings.nz