Jīnsè tóngzǐ yīnyuán jīng 金色童子因緣經

Sūtra of the Causes and Conditions of the Golden-Colored Boy translated by 惟淨 (Wéijìng, 等譯) et al.

About the work

The Jīnsè tóngzǐ yīnyuán jīng (T550) is a substantial twelve-fascicle Mahāyāna avadāna sūtra translated by the Sòng monk Wéijìng 惟淨 (惟淨) and his team. The protagonist Jīnsè tóngzǐ 金色童子 (“Golden-Colored Boy”; Sanskrit Suvarṇavarṇa-kumāra) has an extensive jātaka-like past-life narrative.

Prefaces

The text opens with the canonical formula.

Abstract

This is one of the longest sūtras translated by the second-generation Sòng Yìjīng yuàn team. Wéijìng was active 1004–1054 CE under the leadership of successive imperial translation supervisors. The twelve-fascicle scale permits an extensive narrative-doctrinal treatment of the Suvarṇavarṇa narrative.

Translations and research

  • Sen, Tansen. Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade. Honolulu, 2003.
  • CBETA T14n0550
  • Kanseki DB
  • 惟淨 DILA
  • Dazangthings date evidence (1000) — T = CBETA [Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association]. Taishō shinshū daizōkyō 大正新脩大藏經. Edited by Takakusu Junjirō 高楠順次郎 and Watanabe Kaigyoku 渡邊海旭. Tokyo: Taishō shinshū daizōkyō kankōkai/Daizō shuppan, 1924-1932. CBReader v 5.0, 2014.