Chángzhuǎ fànzhì qǐngwèn jīng 長爪梵志請問經
Sūtra of the Questions of the Long-Nailed Brahmin (Dīrghanakha) translated by 義淨 (Yìjìng, 譯)
About the work
The Chángzhuǎ fànzhì qǐngwèn jīng (T584) is a one-fascicle Yìjìng translation of a Buddhist conversion-debate involving the brahmin Chángzhuǎ 長爪 (“Long Nails,” Sanskrit Dīrghanakha), the famous paribbājaka known from the Pāli Dīghanakha-sutta (MN 74) and identified by the commentaries with Sāriputta’s maternal uncle.
Prefaces
The text opens with the canonical formula.
Abstract
A short doctrinal sūtra in dialogue form, datable within Yìjìng’s Cháng’ān translation period (700–711 CE). The Indic original belongs to the Dīrghanakha / Aggivacchagotta cluster of skeptical-philosopher debates; here the Buddha refutes the brahmin’s three positions (acceptance, rejection, suspension of all views).
Translations and research
- Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi, trans. The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. Boston: Wisdom, 1995, MN 74 (Pāli parallel Dīghanakha-sutta).
- No further dedicated study located.
Links
- CBETA T14n0584
- Kanseki DB
- 義淨 DILA
- Dazangthings date evidence (705) — 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.