唯識二十論述記 1.2

1.2

The Viṃśikāvijñaptimātratāsiddhi was composed by the Bodhisattva Vasubandhu. Its title states that the basic tenet is presented in twenty verses; it was given this name to distinguish it from the Triṃśikā. Formerly, Master Bodhiruci first translated it under the Wei dynasty, and the Tripiṭaka Master Guṇarata retranslated it under the Chen dynasty. Now, my preceptor, the Tripiṭaka Master Xuanzang, compared various Sanskrit manuscripts and examined those two prior translations, recognizing that their translators had not mastered its profound principles, that their meanings contained many omissions and errors, that they did not comprehend linguistic science (śabdavidyā), and that their phrasing was exceedingly verbose and unpolished, in more than one respect, making it difficult to set forth completely. For this reason, scholars across generations opened it but could not reach its depth. Then, in the Great Tang, in the first year of the Longshuo era, the year Xinyou, on the first day of the sixth month, at the Qingfu Hall of Yuhua Palace, he commenced the translation of this treatise. I, Kuiji, received his instructions and took up the brush; on the eighth day of that month, the careful translation was brought to completion, eliminating and correcting additions and errors, and stitching together omissions and defects. Once this new version was seen, it finally resembled the work of Vasubandhu. The holy intent was newly revived in China, and the divine appearance was born anew in the semblant age; discerning gentlemen of wisdom should surely examine it for themselves.