Sìfēn jièběn yuēyì 四分戒本約義
The Essential Meaning of the Sìfēn Prātimokṣa by 元賢 (Yuán Xián, 述)
About the work
A four-fascicle late-Míng / early-Qīng abridged commentary on the Sìfēn prātimokṣa by Yǒngjué Yuánxián 永覺元賢 (元賢, 1578–1657), the major Cáodòng 曹洞 Chán master and Vinaya specialist. 約義 yuēyì “essential meaning” indicates a condensed exposition.
Prefaces
Author’s colophon: 明永覺元賢述.
Abstract
Yuánxián’s commentary represents the late-Míng Cáodòng-Chán synthesis of meditative practice with Vinaya observance. As a major Cáodòng Chán master, Yuánxián’s involvement in Vinaya scholarship reflects the broader late-Míng integration of meditation and discipline pioneered by 祩宏 Zhūhóng, 憨山德清 Hānshān Déqīng, and 智旭 Zhìxù. The Yuēyì presents the prātimokṣa in a condensed form suited to Chán-monastic instruction.
Translations and research
- Yū, Chün-fang. The Renewal of Buddhism in China. New York, 1981.
- Jiang Wu. Enlightenment in Dispute. New York, 2008.