Indian Literature Abroad
Summary
Indian Literature Abroad details the transmission of Indian Buddhist texts to China through key figures and translations. In 520 AD, Bodhidharma, the 28th Buddhist patriarch, arrived in Canton, establishing the Contemplative school without leaving written works but influencing Chinese monks. Wu-ti’s patronage led to a 546 AD mission to India, retrieving Sanskrit manuscripts translated by Paramirtha (Guparata), who arrived in Nanking in 548. He translated approximately 50 works, with 32 surviving, primarily on Abhidharma, including the *Sraddkotpida-dastra* (later translated as *The Awakening of Faith* by Suzuki) and Vasubandhu’s treatises like *Nirvina-satrapirva-bhiidotpannibhiita-githi-sistra*. Paramirtha also translated Sarvastivada texts, such as *Abhidharma-kogsa*, showcasing Indian philosophical depth. His work highlighted Indian intellectual achievements, countering Chinese perceptions of Buddhist literature as superficial. The text notes scholarly debates, including Takakusu’s analysis linking the Chinese *Sa-ñsza-ka-néa-vrtti* to Gaudapada’s *Bhasya*, and Belvalkar’s theory about the lost Sanskrit original. These translations and commentaries, including those by Wu-sung and Vasubandhu, underscore the profound impact of Indian Buddhist scholarship on Chinese thought.
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Conclusion
This study highlights the profound impact of Indian Buddhist scholarship on Chinese intellectual traditions through the translational efforts of Paramirtha, whose work preserved and disseminated critical Abhidharma and Yogacara philosophies. By rendering texts like the *Sraddkotpida-dastra* and Vasubandhu’s treatises, Paramirtha bridged Indian and Chinese thought, challenging the latter’s philosophical assumptions and enriching its Buddhist discourse. His translations, particularly of the *Madyana-samparigraha-śāstra* and *Abhidharma-kosha*, became foundational, influencing subsequent scholars like Hiuen Tsang and shaping China’s engagement with Indian metaphysics. The enduring legacy of these works—32 of which survive today—underscores their role in fostering cross-cultural intellectual exchange, solidifying Indian literature’s role in transforming East Asian philosophical landscapes.