Prof. Stefano Zacchetti: Transmitting, Commenting, Expanding: Patterns of Textual Variation in the Tradition of the Larger Prajñāpāramitā

13 December 2017

As is well known, when studied diachronically many Mahāyāna sutras show a marked tendency to variation. While various typologies and patterns of change can be observed, one of the most important causes of textual variation (and particularly of expansion) was arguably the influence of exegesis: as the scriptures were commented upon from an early stage of their transmission, glosses and other additions sometimes made their way into the texts. The group of Larger Prajñāpāramitā scriptures, a family of closely related texts of varying length (usually classified as Aṣṭādaśasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā, Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā P., and Śatasāhasrikā P.), is particularly well-suited for studying this process of textual growth. One of the most important features of interest presented by this scriptural family is the presence of its monumental and typologically unique commentary known as Da zhidu lun ⼤知度論 (*Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa?) T 1509,  traditionally ascribed to Nāgārjuna in East Asia and existing only in Kumārajīva’s early 5th century Chinese translation, which provides us with a unique vantage point for observing the complex interplay between transmission and exegesis during the early phase of the Larger Prajñāpāramitā’s textual history.

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December 13th, 2017 - 16.00h
Universität Hamburg,
ESA-Ost, Raum 120, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, 20146 Hamburg
Free Entrance.