Cover not available
Article published In:
International Journal of Chinese Linguistics
Vol. 5:1 (2018) ► pp.1–32

The language of Chinese Buddhism

From the perspective of Chinese historical linguistics

 | The Education University of Hong Kong
 | The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
This is a more detailed introduction of the language of Chinese Buddhism based on our latest research of Buddhist Chinese, which is a modern Chinese historical linguistic category applied to a form of written Chinese originated for and used in Buddhist texts, including the translations into Chinese of Indian Buddhist scriptures and all Chinese works of Buddhism composed by Chinese monks and lay Buddhists in the past. We attempt to answer in this paper the following questions: What is Buddhist Chinese? What is the main difference between Buddhist Chinese and non-Buddhist Chinese? What role did this language play in the history of Chinese language development? And what is the value of this language for the Chinese Historical Linguistics?
Keywords: Buddhist Chinese, Chinese translation of Indian Buddhist scriptures, Sanskrit-Chinese comparative collation, Chinese historical linguistics, Classical written Chinese, vernacular written Chinese
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The language of Chinese translations of Indian Buddhist scriptures
    • 2.1Hybrid of the target language with source language elements
    • 2.2Hybrid of the spoken language with written language elements
    • 2.3Main reasons for the two hybrids
    • 2.4Colloquial Chinese register
    • 2.5Written Chinese register
    • 2.6Hybrid register
    • 2.7Stylized/technical writing register
  • 3.Language of Chinese indigenous Buddhist compositions
    • 3.1Classical written Chinese register
    • 3.2Vernacular written Chinese register
      • 3.2.1Language of Dunhuang popular literature
        • Genre of transformation texts
        • Genre of vernacular poetry
      • 3.2.2Recorded sayings
  • 4.The Influence of the Chinese translations of Indian Buddhist scriptures on the evolution of Chinese and Chinese language studies
    • 4.1The creation of baihua
    • 4.2Speeding up bisyllabicization
    • 4.3Adoption of plural markers for nouns and personal pronouns
    • 4.4Promoting language contact
    • 4.5Promoting ancient Chinese language studies
      • 4.5.1 Fanqie 反切
      • 4.5.2 Zimu 字母
      • 4.5.3 Yuntu 韻圖
      • 4.5.4 Xitan xue 悉曇學
    • 4.6Revolutionizing the modern study of Chinese historical linguistics
      • 4.6.1 Fan-han duiyin 梵漢對音 and its importance for historical Chinese phonology
      • 4.6.2Buddhist Chinese studies based on Fan-han duikan 梵漢對勘
  • Acknowledgements
  • Note
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 10 August 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijchl.17010.zhu
References (49)
References
Boucher, Daniel J. (1998). “Gāndhārī and the Early Chinese Buddhist Translations Reconsidered: The Case of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra ”, Journal of the American Oriental Society vol. 118, 1998(4):471–506. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2000). “On Hu and Fan Again: The Transmission of ‘Barbarian’ Manuscripts to China”, Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies vol. 23, 2000(1):7–28.Google Scholar
Branner, David Prager (ed.). (2006). The Chinese Rime Tables: Linguistic Philosophy and Historical-Comparative Phonology, Studies in the Theory and History of Linguistic Science, pp. 1–34, Series IV: Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 271, Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dong, Zhiqiao 董志翹. (1998). “ Gaoseng zhuan ciyu tongshi – jian tan hanyi fodian kouyuci xiang zhongtu wenxian de kuosan 《高僧傳》詞語通释——兼談佛教典籍口語詞向中土文獻的擴散” [A comprehensive explanation of terms in Biographies of Eminent Monks – together with a discussion of the expansion of terms from Buddhist texts of Chinese documents], in: Zhonggu wenxian yuyan lunji 中古文獻語言論集 [Collected papers on the language of medieval documents], pp. 1–28, Chengdu: Bashu shushe.Google Scholar
Feng, Shengli 馮勝利. (2009). Hanyu de yunlü cifa he jufa 漢語的韻律詞法和句法 [On the interaction of morphology, syntax, and prosody in Chinese], Beijing: Beijingdaxue chubanshe.Google Scholar
Forte, Antonino. (1995). The Hostage An Shigao and His Offspring: An Iranian Family in China, Kyoto: Italian School of East Asian Studies.Google Scholar
Gu, Xiang 谷響. (1955) “Gudai lai hua jiangxue de xifang yiren 古代來華講學的西方譯人” [Western translators who came to China to teach in ancient times], Xiandai Foxue 現代佛學 [Modern Buddhism], 1955(2):17–23, Beijing: Zhongguo fojiao xiehui xuexi weiyuanhui.Google Scholar
Harbsmeier, Christoph. (1989). “The Classical Chinese Modal Particle Yi 已”, in: Di’erjie guoji Hanxue huiyi lunwenji-yuyan yu wenzi zu 第二屆國際漢學會議論文集-語言與文字組 [Collected papers of the second international conference on Sinology – section on language and script], vol. 11, pp. 471–504, Taipei: Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, 1989.Google Scholar
Idema, Wilt and Haft, Lloyd. (1997). A Guide to Chinese Literature, chap. 14, “Popular Literature: Ci and Bianwen ”, Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Iriya, Yoshitaka 入矢義高. (1983). Gudō to etsuraku: Chūgoku no zen to shi 求道と悦楽: 中囯の禅と詩 [Seeking the Way and happiness: Chinese Chan and poetry], Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten.Google Scholar
Ji, Xianlin 季羨林. (1985). Yuanshi fojiao de yuyan wenti 原始佛教的語言問題 [On the question of the original language of Indian Buddhism], Beijing: Zhongguo shehui kexue chubanshe.Google Scholar
Jiang, Lihong 蔣禮鴻. (1988). Dunhuang bianwen ziyi tongshi 敦煌變文字義通釋 [A thorough explanation of the meanings of the words and expressions in the Dunhuang transformation texts], 4th enl. ed., Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe.Google Scholar
Jiang, Nan 姜南. (2011). Jiyu Fan-han duikan de Fahuajin yufa yanjiu 基於梵漢對勘的《法華經》語法研究 [Study on the grammar of the Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra based on the Sanskirt-Chinese comparative collation], in Zhongguo yuyanxue wenku [Library of Chinese linguistics] vol. 31 中國語言學文庫第三輯 Beijing: Shangwu yinshu guan.Google Scholar
Karashima, Seishi 辛嶋靜志. (1994). A Study of the Underlying Language of the Chinese Dīrghâgama: Focusing on an Analysis of the Transliterations, Tokyo: Hirakawa shuppansha.Google Scholar
. (2006). “Underlying Language of Early Chinese Translation of Buddhist Scriptures”, in: Christoph Anderl and Halvor Eifring (Eds.), Studies in Chinese Language and Culture: Festschrift in Honour of Christoph Harbsmeier on the Occasion of His 60th Birthday, pp. 355–366, Oslo: Hermes Academic Publishing.Google Scholar
Lü, Shuxiang 呂叔湘. (1944). “Wenyan he baihua 文言和白話” [Classical written Chinese and vernacular written Chinese], Guowen zazhi 國文雜誌 [Journal of national written language] vol. 3, 1944(1):3–12, Guilin: Kaimin shudian.Google Scholar
Ma, Zuyi 馬祖毅. (2004). “Zhongguo fanyi jianshi– Wusi yiqian bufen 中國翻譯簡史——五四以前部分” [A Brief History of Translation in China: Before 1919], Beijing: Zhongguo duiwai fanyi chuban gongsi.Google Scholar
Mair, Victor H. (1989). T’ang Transformation Texts, Cambridge MA: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University; distributed by Harvard University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(1994). “Buddhism and the Rise of the Written Vernacular in East Asia: The Making of National Languages”, The Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 53, 1994(3):707–751. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2014). “Transformation as Imagination in Medieval Popular Buddhist Literature”, in: John Kieschnick and Meir Shahar (Eds.), India in the Chinese Imagination: Myth, Religion, and Thought, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, pp. 13–20. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Nattier, Jan. (2008). A Guide to the Earliest Chinese Buddhist Translations, Texts from the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms Periods, Bibliotheca Philologica et Philosophica Buddhica Volume X1, The International Research Institute for Advanced Buddhology, Soka University, Tokyo.Google Scholar
Norman, Jerry. (1988). Chinese, Cambridge, Eng.: Cambridge University Press, 1988.Google Scholar
Pulleyblank, Edwin G. (1991). Lexicon of Reconstructed Pronunciation in Early Middle Chinese, Late Middle Chinese, and Early Mandarin, Vancouver: UBC Press.Google Scholar
Storch, Tanya. (2014). The History of Chinese Buddhist Bibliography: Censorship and Transformation of the Tripitaka, Amherst NY: Cambria Press.Google Scholar
Tso, Sze-bong 曹仕邦. (1963). “Lun Zhongguo fojiao yichang yijing fangshi yu chengxu 論中國佛教譯場譯經方式與程序” [On the method and process of translating sutras in Chinese Buddhist translation institutes], Xinya Xuebao 新亞學報 [The New Asia Journal], vol. 5, 1963(2):239–321, Hong Kong: The New Asia Institute of Advanced Chinese Studies.Google Scholar
Wang, Jihong 王繼紅. (2014). Jiyu Fan-han duikan de Apidamo Jushelun yufa yanjiu 基於梵漢對勘的《阿毘達磨俱舍論》語法研究 [Study on the grammar of the Chinese translation of Abhidharma-kośa based on the Sanskirt-Chinese comparative collation], Shanghai: Zhongxi shuju.Google Scholar
Xiang, Chu 項楚. (2004). “Tangdai de baihua shi pai 唐代的白話詩派” [On the vernacular poem school in the Tang period], Jiangxi shehui kexue 江西社會科學 [Jiangxi social sciences], 2004(2):36–41, Nanchang: Jiangxisheng shehuikexueyuan.Google Scholar
Yu, Xiaorong 遇笑容. (2004). “Hanyu yufashi zhong de yuyan jiechu yu yufa bianhua 漢語語法史中的語言接觸與語法變化” [Language contact and language change in the history of Chinese grammar], Hanyushi xuebao 漢語史學報 [Journal of the History of Chinese], no. 4, pp. 27–34, Shanghai: Shanghai jiaoyu chubanshe.Google Scholar
Yuan, Bin 袁賓 and Kang, Jian 康建. (2010). Chanzong da cidian 禅宗大詞典 [Dictionary of terms in Chan], Wuhan: cishu chubanshe.Google Scholar
Zhang, Yongquan 張涌泉 and Huang, Zheng 黃征. (1998). Dunhuang bianwen jiaozhu 敦煌變文校注 [Dunhuang transformation texts with collation and annotation], Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe.Google Scholar
Zhou, Yukai 周裕鍇. (2009). Chanzong yuyan yanjiu rumen 禪宗語言研究入門 [Primer for research on Chan recorded sayings], Shanghai: Fudandaxue chubanshe.Google Scholar
Zhu, Guanming 朱冠明. (2013). “Hanyi fodian yufa yanjiu shuyao 漢譯佛典語法研究述要” [Brief introduction to the study of the grammar of Chinese translation of Indian Buddhist scripture], in: Shaoyu Jiang 蔣紹愚 and Hu, Chirui 胡敕瑞 (Eds.), Hanyi fodian yufa yanjiu lunji 漢譯佛典語法研究論集 [Collected papers on the study of grammar in Chinese translated Buddhist texts], pp.1–45. Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi 朱慶之. (1992). Fodian yu zhonggu hanyu cihui yanjiu 佛典與中古漢語詞彙研究 [Study of the relationship between Buddhist scriptures and the vocabulary of medieval Chinese], Taipei: Wenjin chubanshe.Google Scholar
. (1993). “Hanyi fodian yuwen zhong de yuandian yingxiang chutan 漢譯佛典語文中的原典影響初探” [Preliminary discussion on the influence of the original texts upon the language of Buddhist translated texts], Zhonguo yuwen 中國語文 [Chinese language], 1993(5):379–385. Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
. (1994). “Hanyu wailaici erli 漢語外來詞二例” [Two examples of loan words in Chinese], Yuyan jiaoxue yu yanjiu 語言教學與研究 [Language teaching and research], 1994(1):153–160. Beijing: Beijing-yuyan-xueyuan chubanshe.Google Scholar
. (1999). “Fodian yu hanyu yinyun yanjiu 佛典與漢語音韻研究” [Buddhist texts and research on Chinese phonology], Hanyushi yanjiu jikan 漢語史研究集刊 [Journal of Research on the History of Chinese], no. 21, pp. 303–320. Chengdu: Bashu shushe.Google Scholar
. (2001). “Fojiao hunhe hanyu chulun 佛教混合漢語初論” [A preliminary discussion of Buddhist Hybrid Chinese], Yuyanxue luncong 語言學論叢 [Collected Papers on Linguistics], no. 24, pp. 1–33, Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
. (2007). “Lun Fojiao dui gudai Hanyu cihui fazhan yanbian de yingxiang 論佛教對古代漢語詞彙發展演變的影響” [On the influence of Buddhism upon the development of ancient Chinese vocabulary], in: Ershiyi shiji de zhongguo yuyanxue 21世紀的中國語言學 [Chinese linguistics in the 21st century] no. 2, pp. 231–269, Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
. (2008). “Yuyan jiechu ji yuyan bianyi lilun yu fojiao hanyu yanjiu 語言接觸及語言變異理論與佛教漢語研究” [Theories of language contact and language change and studies on Buddhist Chinese], in: Yang Shen 沈陽 and Feng, Shengli 馮勝利 (Eds.), Dangdai yuyanxue lilun he hanyu yanjiu 當代語言學理論和漢語研究 [Contemporary linguistic theory and studies on Chinese], pp. 563–575, Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi. (2010). “On some basic features of Buddhist Chinese”, Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 31, 2008 (2010)(1-2):485–504. Leuven: Peeters.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi 朱慶之. (2012). “Shanggu hanyu wu, yu deng diyi rencheng daici zai kouyu zhong xiaoshi de shidai 上古漢語“吾”“余/予”等第一人稱代詞在口語中消失的時代” [Determining the period when several first person pronouns disappeared in the spoken Ancient Chinese], Zhongguo yuwen 中國語文 [Chinese language], 2012(2):195–210, Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
. (2014), “Hanyu mingci he rencheng daici fushu biaoji de chansheng yu fojing fanyi zhi guanxi 漢語名詞和人稱代詞複數標記的產生與佛經翻譯之關係” [On the relationship between the origin of Chinese plural markers for nouns and personal pronouns and the Chinese translation of Indian Buddhist scripture], Zhongguo yuyan xuebao 中國語言學報 [Journal of Chinese Language], no. 161, pp. 10–43, Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi. (2015a). “Kumārajīva: a great contributor to the creation of Chinese Buddhism and the Chinese culture”, in: Shashibala ed., KUMĀRAJĪVA Philosopher and Seer, Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi, pp.251–275.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi 朱慶之 (2015b). “Zhi Qian yi Weimojie jing zhong de yixie poge yongfa 支謙譯 “維摩詰經” 中的一些 ‘破格’ 用法” [On some unusual usages in the Chinese translation of the Weimojie jing by Zhi Qian], in Foguang Xuebao 佛光學報 [Foguang Journal], New vol. 1(2):233–262, Yilan: Foguang University.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi 朱慶之 et al. (2015c), “Han Fan fodian shuangyu biaozhu yuliaoku de goujian 漢梵佛典雙語標註語料庫的構建” [Creation of a database of Chinese Buddhist translations and their Sanskrit parallels for Buddhist Chinese studies], in Tsou Ka Yin 鄒嘉彥 et al. (Eds.), Linguistic Corpus and Corpus Linguistics in the Chinese Context, The Journal of Chinese Linguistics Monograph Series No. 25, pp. 352–367, Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qingzhi 朱慶之 and Zhu, Guanming 朱冠明. (2006). “Fodian yu hanyu yufa yanjiu 佛典與漢語語法研究” [Buddhist texts and the study of Chinese grammar], Hanyushi yanjiu jikan 漢語史研究集刊 [Journal for the study of Chinese language], no. 91, pp. 413–459. Chengdu: Bashu shushe.Google Scholar
Zürcher, Erik. (1977). “Late Han Vernacular Elements in the Earliest Buddhist Translations”, Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association, vol. 12, 1977(3):177–203.Google Scholar
. (1990). “Han Buddhism and the Western Region”, in: W. L. Idema and E. Zürcher (Eds.), Thought and law in Qin and Han China, pp. 158–182, Leiden: E. J. Brill.Google Scholar
. (1991). “A new look at the earliest Chinese Buddhist texts”, in: K. Shinohara and G. Schopen (Eds.), From Benares to Beijing, essays on Buddhism and Chinese religion in honor of Prof. Jan Yün-hua, pp. 277–304, Oakville, Ont., Can.: Mosaic Press.Google Scholar
Cited by (2)

Cited by two other publications

Armen G. Alexanyan
2024. Christianity in Tang China: Texts and People. Problemy Dalnego Vostoka :3 ► pp. 161 ff. DOI logo
Qiu, Bing & Jiahao Huo
2024. Quantitative Stylistic Analysis of Middle Chinese Texts Based on the Dissimilarity of Evolutive Core Word Usage. ACM Transactions on Asian and Low-Resource Language Information Processing 23:7 ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 18 november 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.