The Sarvāstivāda Ontology of Language: Inaudible Language and Real Object-Referent

doi:10.21482/jbs.87..202606.65

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2026 Vol.87 Preview Page Next Page

투고논문

The Sarvāstivāda Ontology of Language: Inaudible Language and Real Object-Referent 설일체유부의 언어 존재론: 들을 수 없는 언어와 실재하는 지시체: 최성호
CHOI, Seong-Ho; 서울대 아시아연구소 남아시아센터

Center for South Asian Studies, SNUAC

30 June 2026. pp. 65∼86

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Abstract

This paper revisits the Sarvāstivāda ontology of name (nāman), phrase (pada), and phoneme (vyañjana) in the context of utterance. In the AKBh, the Sarvāstivādins maintain that these linguistic units exist as inaudible and unreadable entities, independently of and prior to speech sound (vāc). Through an analysis of relevant Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese passages, this paper clarifies the presuppositions of the Sarvāstivāda argument, which are not explicitly introduced in the AKBh. First, these linguistic units can be expressed not only through speech sound but also through readable letters (lipi). Second, the Sanskrit term artha denotes not only meaning but also a real object-referent. For example, the artha of “fire” indicates an actual burning object. Therefore, the speech sound “fire” cannot refer directly to the object-referent “fire”; otherwise, the mouth would burn. The three linguistic units must therefore mediate between speech sound and object-referent.

Keywords

name

phrase

phoneme

speech sound

letter

object-referent

본 논문은 설일체유부가 명칭(nāman), 구절(pada), 음운(vyañjana)의 언어학적 특징을 언어의 실재성 맥락에서 어떻게 설명하는지 분석하는 데 초점을 둔다. 『아비달마구사론』의 설일체유부는 이 세 언어적 요소가 말소리(vāc)와는 별개로, 또한 선행하여 존재해야 한다고 주장한다. 또한 이 요소들은 들을 수도 읽을 수도 없는 존재이어야 한다고 주장한다. 관련된 산스크리트, 티벳어역, 한역 자료들을 분석한 후, 설일체유부의 주장이 전제하고 있지만 명확히 설명하고 있지 않은 논거들이 무엇인지 규명할 것이다. 가장 중요한 두 논거는 다음과 같다: 먼저, 세 가지 언어적 요소들은 말소리뿐만 아니라 글로도 표현될 수 있기 때문에, 이 요소들은 소리를 본질로 하는 말소리와 동일시될 수 없다. 또한, 설일체유부의 언어관에서 산스크리트 용어 artha는 말소리의 의미를 넘어서 실제 대상을 함축한다. ‘불’이라는 artha는 실제 타고 있는 불을 가리키며, 따라서 설일체유부의 이론에서 말소리 ‘불’이 artha ‘불’을 직접 표현한다면, 말소리를 만든 입은 불타버린다는 결론에 이르게 된다. 이를 피하기 위해서, ‘불’이라는 명칭이 중간에 개입해야 한다.

키워드

명칭

구절

음운

말소리

문자

표현 대상

References

◆ 약호 및 일차 문헌 Abbreviations and Primary Sources

AA Abhidharmāvātāra, D4097 (Tibetan Translation); T1554 (Chinese Translation).
AKBh Abhidharmakośabhāṣya, edited by Prahlad Pradhan. Patna: K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, 1967.
AKBh_P Paramārtha’s (Zhendi 眞諦) Chinese version of AKBh (T1559).
AKBh_X Xuanzang’s (玄奘) Chinese version of AKBh (T1558).
AKV Sphutārthā Abhidharmakośavyākhyā, edited by Unrai Wogihara. Reprint, Tokyo: Sankibo, 1971.
D Derge Edition.
MVBh Apidamo da piposha lun 阿毘達磨大毘婆沙論, T1545.
NA Apidamo shunzhengli lun 阿毘達磨順正理論, T1562.
PSkBh Pañcaskandhabhāṣya, D4068 (Tibetan Translation).
T Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō 大正新脩大蔵経

◆ 이차 문헌 Secondary Literature

ABHYANKAR, Kashinath Vasudev. 1986. A Dictionary of Sanskrit Grammar [Third Edition], Baroda: Oriental Institute.
AKLUJKAR, Ashok. 2004. “Can the Grammarians’ Dharma be a Dharma for All?” Journal of Indian philosophy, vol. 32, 687-732. 10.1007/s10781-004-8641-6
BRONKHORST, Johannes. 2011. Language and Reality: On an Episode in Indian Thought, Translated from the French by Michael S. Allen and Rajam Raghunathan, Leiden: Brill. 10.1163/ej.9789004204355.i-170
CHOI, Seongho. 2023. “The Relationship between nāman, pada, and vyañjana in Sarvāstivāda and Yogācāra Literature,” in Puṣpikā, Volume 6: Proceedings of the 12th International Indology Graduate Research Symposium (Vienna, 2021), Vitus Angermeier, et al. eds., Heidelberg: Heidelberg Asian Studies Publishing, 53-66.
COX, Collett. 1995. Disputed Dharmas: Early Buddhist Theories on Existence; An Annotated Translation of the Section on Factors Dissociated from Thought from Saṅgabhadra’s *Nyāyānusāra, Tokyo: The International Institute for Buddhist Studies.
DHAMMAJOTI, K. L. 1998. Entrance into the Supreme Doctrine: Skandhila’s Abhidharmāvatāra, Sri Lanka: Postgraduate Institute for Pali and Buddhist Studies.
_______. 2007. Abhidharma Doctrines and Controversies on Perception [3rd Edition], Hong Kong: Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong.
JAINI, Padmanabh S. 1959. “The Vaibhāṣika Theory of Words and Meanings,” London: Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, vol. 22, no. 1, 95-107. 10.1017/S0041977X00076151
LEE, Jong Cheol 이종철. 1995. 「와수반두의 언어관」 (*Vasubandhu’s Philosophy of Language). 『철학논구』 (Philosophical Forum), vol. 23, 23-62.
NASU, Enshō 那須円照. 2012. 「『倶舎論』における言語観」 (“The philosophy of Language in the Abhidharmakośabhāṣya”), パーリ学仏教文化学 (Journal of Pāli and Buddhist Studies), vol. 26, no. 0, 41-62.
PARK, Changhwan 박창환. 2013. 「구사론주(kośakāra) 세친(Vasubandhu)의 현상주의적 언어철학」 (Vasubandhu, the Kośakāra’s Phenomenalistic Philosophy of Language), 『동아시아불교문화』 (Journal of Eastern-Asia Buddhism and Culture), vol. 14, 25-75.
STCHERBATSKY, Theodore. 1923. The Central Conception of Buddhism and the Meaning of the Word “Dharma,” London: Royal Asiatic Society.
TZOHAR, Roy. 2018. Yogācāra Theory of Metaphor, New York: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/oso/9780190664398.001.0001

Information

Publisher :Korean Association of Buddhist Studies
Publisher(Ko) :불교학연구회
Journal Title :Korean Journal of Buddhist Studies
Journal Title(Ko) :불교학연구
Volume : 87
Pages :65∼86
DOI :https://doi.org/10.21482/jbs.87..202606.65

[1] AA Abhidharmāvātāra, D4097 (Tibetan Translation); T1554 (Chinese Translation).

[2] AKBh Abhidharmakośabhāṣya, edited by Prahlad Pradhan. Patna: K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, 1967.

[3] AKBh_P Paramārtha’s (Zhendi 眞諦) Chinese version of AKBh (T1559).

[4] AKBh_X Xuanzang’s (玄奘) Chinese version of AKBh (T1558).

[5] AKV Sphutārthā Abhidharmakośavyākhyā, edited by Unrai Wogihara. Reprint, Tokyo: Sankibo, 1971.

[6] D Derge Edition.

[7] MVBh Apidamo da piposha lun 阿毘達磨大毘婆沙論, T1545.

[8] NA Apidamo shunzhengli lun 阿毘達磨順正理論, T1562.

[9] PSkBh Pañcaskandhabhāṣya, D4068 (Tibetan Translation).

[10] T Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō 大正新脩大蔵経

[11] ABHYANKAR, Kashinath Vasudev. 1986. A Dictionary of Sanskrit Grammar [Third Edition], Baroda: Oriental Institute.

[12] AKLUJKAR, Ashok. 2004. “Can the Grammarians’ Dharma be a Dharma for All?” Journal of Indian philosophy, vol. 32, 687-732. 10.1007/s10781-004-8641-6

[13] BRONKHORST, Johannes. 2011. Language and Reality: On an Episode in Indian Thought, Translated from the French by Michael S. Allen and Rajam Raghunathan, Leiden: Brill. 10.1163/ej.9789004204355.i-170

[14] CHOI, Seongho. 2023. “The Relationship between nāman, pada, and vyañjana in Sarvāstivāda and Yogācāra Literature,” in Puṣpikā, Volume 6: Proceedings of the 12th International Indology Graduate Research Symposium (Vienna, 2021), Vitus Angermeier, et al. eds., Heidelberg: Heidelberg Asian Studies Publishing, 53-66.

[15] COX, Collett. 1995. Disputed Dharmas: Early Buddhist Theories on Existence; An Annotated Translation of the Section on Factors Dissociated from Thought from Saṅgabhadra’s *Nyāyānusāra, Tokyo: The International Institute for Buddhist Studies.

[16] DHAMMAJOTI, K. L. 1998. Entrance into the Supreme Doctrine: Skandhila’s Abhidharmāvatāra, Sri Lanka: Postgraduate Institute for Pali and Buddhist Studies.

[17] _______. 2007. Abhidharma Doctrines and Controversies on Perception [3rd Edition], Hong Kong: Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong.

[18] JAINI, Padmanabh S. 1959. “The Vaibhāṣika Theory of Words and Meanings,” London: Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, vol. 22, no. 1, 95-107. 10.1017/S0041977X00076151

[19] LEE, Jong Cheol 이종철. 1995. 「와수반두의 언어관」 (*Vasubandhu’s Philosophy of Language). 『철학논구』 (Philosophical Forum), vol. 23, 23-62.

[20] NASU, Enshō 那須円照. 2012. 「『倶舎論』における言語観」 (“The philosophy of Language in the Abhidharmakośabhāṣya”), パーリ学仏教文化学 (Journal of Pāli and Buddhist Studies), vol. 26, no. 0, 41-62.

[21] PARK, Changhwan 박창환. 2013. 「구사론주(kośakāra) 세친(Vasubandhu)의 현상주의적 언어철학」 (Vasubandhu, the Kośakāra’s Phenomenalistic Philosophy of Language), 『동아시아불교문화』 (Journal of Eastern-Asia Buddhism and Culture), vol. 14, 25-75.

[22] STCHERBATSKY, Theodore. 1923. The Central Conception of Buddhism and the Meaning of the Word “Dharma,” London: Royal Asiatic Society.

[23] TZOHAR, Roy. 2018. Yogācāra Theory of Metaphor, New York: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/oso/9780190664398.001.0001

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

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