Fóshuō Xiánshǒu jīng 佛說賢首經

Sūtra of Lady Xiánshǒu (Bhadraśrī) translated by 聖堅 (Shèngjiān / *Āryasthira, 譯)

About the work

The Fóshuō Xiánshǒu jīng (T570) is a short one-fascicle sūtra translated by Shèngjiān 聖堅 (聖堅) under the Western Qín 西秦 (Qǐfú 乞伏) court. The protagonist Xiánshǒu 賢首 (*Bhadraśrī or *Bhadramukha; CANWWW alt. title 賢首夫人經 “Lady Xiánshǒu Sūtra”) is a pious laywoman.

Prefaces

The text opens with the canonical formula.

Abstract

A short narrative in the wise-women genre, attributed to Shèngjiān’s translation activity at the Western Qín court at Yǒngshì 苑川 / Hà’nzhōng. Datable bracket follows the translator’s documented activity (388–409 CE under the Qǐfú rulers Qǐfú Gānguī 乞伏乾歸 and Qǐfú Chìpán 乞伏熾盤). The text is recorded already in the Lìdài sānbǎo jì and Kāiyuán shìjiào lù under Shèngjiān’s name.

Translations and research

  • Paul, Diana Y. Women in Buddhism. Berkeley, 1979.
  • No further substantial secondary literature located.