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Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t7: Buddhist Literature in India

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t7

Language
English

Buddhist Literature in India

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Buddhist Literature in India (or Indian Buddhist Literature) refers to a literary phenomenon and works in ancient Indian Buddhist literature. When Sakyamuni founded Buddhism, he had to preach in an expressive way and often use metaphors, folk tales and real examples to make his followers understand and accept his teachings. Literature became a tool of his mission. After his death, his disciples collected his teachings to form the earliest Buddhist texts. In later generations, Indian Buddhists kept refining, enriching and enlarging them to an increasing number and complexity. Buddhist texts varied from area and time and have been written in Sanskrit, Pali, in proverbs etc. Texts compiled in later generations still made full use of literary tools, and included many literary pieces which are called “Buddhist literary works of India”.

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Classic Buddhist texts consist of three parts, that is, *Sutra Pitaka*, *Vinaya Pitaka* and *Abhidharma Pitaka*, collectively called as Tripitaka. Each part contains literary contents. A sutra contains direct teachings and sayings of the Buddha, but actually many later works are intermingled in it. Despite a purpose to preach Buddhist teachings, it still includes many literary tales. For example, the *Mahaparinibbana Sutta* contains many fables, tales, myths and legends. A vinaya describes the disciplines to be observed by Buddhists. It may be quite literary and contain beautiful tales, fables, myths and legends, so as to facilitate followers to understand, memorise and implement, such as *Dharmaguptavinaya*, *Hahisasakavinaya* and *Sarvastivadavinaya*. Abhidharma Pitaka also contains considerable literary contents. For example, the *Mahaprajnaparamita-sastra*, compiled by Nagarjuna and known as “the King of Abhidharma Pitakas”, tells many stories. India has a colossal number of Buddhist texts which contain an amazing amount of literary pieces. So, these Buddhist texts are a treasure of ancient Indian literature, world literature and human wisdom.

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'Prince Mahasattva Jataka' (Saduona taizi bensheng), the southern wall of cave 254, Mogao grottoes, Northern Wei Dynasty

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*Mahaprajnaparamita Upadesha/ Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom* (*Da zhi du lun*), composed by Bodhisattva Nagarjuna and translated by Kumārajīva, printed by the imperial storehouse during the fifth regnal year of Ming Zhengtong, 1440

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Buddhist literary works of India cover a variety of genres including fables, fairy tales, myths and stories as well as verses and dramas, such as Asvaghasa’s *Buddhcarita* and *Sariputra-prakarana*. Tales in Buddhist texts of India can be divided into several categories: 1. Tales of the Buddha, which are mainly about the life of Sakyamuni and his birth, growth, monkhood, enlightenment, preaching and nirvana. 2. *Jataka Tales* ie tales told in *Jataka* concerning the previous lives of the Buddha in human and animal forms. They are ancient Indian folk tales affixed with a Buddhist tag. 3. Myths and legends including ancient Indian myths and legends recorded, polished and adapted by Buddhists, especially Brahmanic ones. 4. Karma tales or apadanas, tales used in Buddhist sutras to explain or demonstrate an argument or vinaya. 5. Magic power tales recorded in Buddhist texts about the supernatural power of various Buddhas and their disciplines. These are new myths created by Buddhists.

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(Xue Keqiao)

Linked texts (6)