Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t3: Transformational Texts

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t3

Language
English

Transformational Texts

v2.c10.s1.t3.1

Bianwen refers to a popular form of literary works which appeared among the people during the Tang Dynasty and it is believed to be the forerunner of Chinese vernacular novels. Bianwen was a new literary genre created under the influence of Buddhism, actually most of these works can be seen as vernacular novels. Initially, Bianwen came from the *Informal Speeches* of Buddhist temples. In order to preach doctrines to the common people, monks first created *Informal Speeches*, namely preaching Buddhism doctrines in everyday language through the medium of stories. This way the doctrines that were preached became more interesting. Later, Bianwen came to be classified into more and more categories and then was not only limited to telling stories from Buddhism scriptures nor were the speakers only limited to monks. So Chinese historical stories, folk legends and real-life events etc, became the source material for creating Bianwen.

v2.c10.s1.t3.2

'Dunhuang Collection of Bianwen' (front cover)

v2.c10.s1.t3.3

There are many Bianwen based on material from Buddhism scriptures, such as *Vimalakirti Sutra Bianwen*, *Amitabha Sutra Bianwen*, *Saddharmapundarika Sutra Bianwen*, and *Mulian Rescuing His Mother Bianwen* (according to *Ulambana Sutra Preached by Buddha*), and *Prevailed against Devils Bianwen* (according to *Virtuous and Fatuous Sutra*). Bianwen based on material from Chinese legends and stories are: *Shunzi Bianwen*, *Han’s General Wang Ling Bianwen*, *Wang Zhaojun Bianwen*, *Wu Zixu Bianwen*, *Lady Mengjiang Bianwen*, *Dong Yong Bianwen* and so on. And some works which are not called Bianwen, are also thought as Bianwen by academic circles, such as *Han Qinhu’s Story*, *Ye Jingneng Poem*, *Swallow Poem*, and *Theory of Tea and Wine*. The latter two categories were all, more or less, influenced by Buddhism.

v2.c10.s1.t3.4

(Xue Keqiao)