翻譯名義集 6.8

6.8

Zhang'an's commentary states: "As for the character 'i', foreign countries have both old and new forms of 'i'. The old 'i' has its horizontal and vertical [dots] severed and separated, and this is borrowed to illustrate that. Horizontally it is like a blazing fire (灬); vertically it is like drops of water (氵), each not connecting with the others. Not horizontal, it is not the same as a blazing fire; not vertical, it is not the same as drops of water. It should resemble the shape of the character beneath the grass radical in this land. With fine strokes connected, this is the form of the new 'i'. The old 'i' may illustrate the three virtues of the former teachings: the dharmakāya is fundamentally possessed, prajñā is completed through cultivation, and only upon entering into [nirvāṇa] without remainder is there liberation, leaving no further body or wisdom. Like vertical drops of water, they are longitudinal and separate. Furthermore, in terms of body and wisdom, liberation with remainder is attained in part. Horizontally existing at one time, the three phenomena are distinct, like the horizontal blazing fire, not interrelated with one another. The new 'i' illustrates the three virtues of the present teachings: the dharmakāya is itself illumination, and it is also itself sovereignty. One is designated as three, yet the three have no separate essence; hence it is not horizontal. It is neither before nor after; hence it is not vertical. One is three, like the large dot; three are one, like the fine strokes. They are three yet one, one yet three. They cannot be spoken of as one or three, nor can they be conceived as one or three; therefore they are called inconceivable. What is inconceivable is neither three nor one; it is called the secret treasury, like the worldly character 'i'." The Guxiang says: "Characters in the west have old and new forms, just like the seal script and clerical script of this land, where seal script is universally regarded as old, and clerical script as new."