What is Other than “Us”

The Non-Buddhist Sources in the Chinese Buddhist Commentary Zhiguan Fuxing Chuanhong Jue

Abstract

This study delves into Zhanran’s Zhiguan fuxing chuanhong jue (hereafter ZFCJ ), a commentary on the Mohe zhiguan. It focuses on this Buddhist commentary’s incorporation of non-Buddhist sources and highlights two primary approaches. First, the commentary employs a strategy of “philological exposition” to blend Zhanran’s knowledge with the object of the commentary, Zhiyi’s Mohe zhiguan. Second, instead of simply contradicting non-Buddhist teachings, it exemplifies an approach of “interpretational integration” to affirm the superiority of Buddhism by juxtaposing non-Buddhist and Buddhist content. This paper argues that non-Buddhist sources significantly enrich the text of the ZFCJ, showcasing Zhanran’s extensive interdisciplinary knowledge and highlighting the interplay between, and synthesis of, Buddhism and traditional Chinese culture. By providing a comprehensive case study, this research aims to contribute to a broader understanding of literary practices within Chinese Buddhist traditions.

湛然的《止觀輔行傳弘決》是對智顗《摩訶止觀》的註釋。本文探討湛然在註釋中運用非佛教典籍的兩種方式：文本詳釋與整合詮釋。前者指湛然將個人的知識充分融入對《摩訶止觀》的解說；後者則是指湛然通過將非佛教內容與佛教內容進行對比，進而確認佛教的優越性，而非簡單地反駁異說。非佛教典籍豐富了《輔行》的內容，展現湛然的廣博知識，並揭示了佛教與中國傳統文化之間的互動與融合。此研究有助於理解中國佛教典籍在文本外延方面的特徵。