The Importance of Pali-Chinese Comparison in the Study of Pali Suttas

Abstract

In studies of Theravada Buddhism, the Pali canon, in particular its Sutta-pitaka, is widely regarded as representing early Buddhism. In this paper I would like to point out how useful and effective Pali-Chinese sutta comparison can be in advancing the historical or critical study of the Pali suttas of the Theravada Buddhist tradition.I will first present briefly historical and textual background on the early Buddhist schools. Then I will give two examples of Pali-Chinese sutta comparison. The first example is a sutta in the Pali Anguttara-nikaya (AN 10.208) and its counterpart in the Chinese Madhyama-agama (MA 15); the second is the Satipatthana-sutta in its Pali version in Majjhima-nikaya (MN 10) and two corresponding Chinese versions in Madhyama-agama (MA 98) and Ekottara-agama (EA 12.1). These two examples, as will be seen, illustrate well the value of consulting the Chinese counterpart of a Pali sutta for critical/historical study of doctrine within the field of Theravada Studies.