Fóshuō shèngjūn wáng suǒwèn jīng 佛說勝軍王所問經

Sūtra of King Prasenajit’s Questions translated by 施護 Shīhù / Dānapāla (譯)

About the work

The Fóshuō shèngjūn wáng suǒwèn jīng (T516) is 施護 Shīhù’s Sòng translation parallel to 玄奘 Xuánzàng’s Rúlái shìjiào shèngjūn wáng jīng KR6i0145 (T515). Both render the same Indic Prasenajit-paripṛcchā-sūtra.

Prefaces

The text opens with the canonical formula.

Abstract

This is the second Chinese translation of the Prasenajit-paripṛcchā. Comparison with Xuánzàng’s earlier translation provides another window into the evolution of Buddhist Chinese idiom across three centuries. Translation dated to Shīhù’s productive period (989–1017 CE).

Translations and research

  • Sen, Tansen. Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade. Honolulu, 2003.