出三藏記集 3.4

3.4

As for the "ancient variant scriptures," these are surviving texts of earlier translations. Searching through Dao'an's catalogue, from the Daodi yaoyu down to the Sixing zhangzhe, there are ninety-two scriptures in total designated as "ancient and variant." Although the scriptures have become scattered and largely lost, by examining the surviving pieces one can distinguish between the ancient and the modern. Some have no distinct titles, taking phrases from the scripture as their titles; or they abridge the Four Āgamas, extracting a single episode to establish a scroll title. Their titles are unadorned and solid, truly classical texts! Master Dao'an observed their ancient variation and compiled them at the end; I, Sengyou, deducing their antiquity, have arranged them at the very beginning. Even though their origins are lost, the early translations are made manifest thereby.