Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

This study is investigating several matters of the different editions of Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra, traslated by Kumārajīva in Dunhuang Manuscripts. First, I have founded at least 4 editions of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra that do not correspond with Tripitaka- Koeana(TK) from the Stein collections. They are the manuscripts of 10 volumes 27 chapters(A), 8 volumes 28 chapters(B), 7 volumes 28 chapters different form TK in dividing volumes(C) and the other one(D). Second, it is the 7th volume including “the chapter of Guanyin(觀音品)” that was written in the highest frequency. In order of the writing frequency, “the chapter of Guanyin” was the first and “the chapter of metaphors(譬喩品)” was the second. From this point, the faith in Guanyin was very popular, and the various metaphors in the Lotus-sutra was the best method in the propagation of teaching of the sutra in Dunhuang at that time. Third, I have compared the 29th chapter with the 30th chapter that are kinds of apocrypha(僞經) and added to the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra in the early 7th centry. “The chapter of measures of the whole world(度量天地品)”, the 29th chapter of the Lotus-Sutra completes the formality as a Buddhist sutra, but the content is quite inclined to the Taoism. On the otherhand, “the chapter of Ma-myung Bodhisattva(馬明菩薩品)”, the 30th chapter of the Sutra has very incomplete form, but contains the substance coinciding with Buddhist teaching. As a result, it becomes possible to guess a little sign of popular versions of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra and religious life on the Lotus-sutra around Dunhuang from 5th to 13th centry.