The Spread of Buddhism

24 bart dessein

is not unlikely that the *Abhidharma mahvibhstra should be dated

to around the second century AD.^36 The *A

askandha/Jñnaprasthna

is itself a summary of six earlier Sarvstivda abhidharma texts.^37 As a

group of seven, these texts, including the *A

askandha/Jñnaprasthna,

became known as the “ a pdbhidharma”. The Sarvstivda abhidharma

literature shows how further sectarian philosophical development led

to different interpretations of these issues.

The Chinese version of the *Abhidharmamahvibhstra contains the

most systematic and elaborate treatment of the subject under scrutiny

here. This text is titled «Apidamo dapiposha lun» (T.1545). The text is

attributed to 500 arhats and was translated into Chinese by Xuanzang

and his translation team from 656 to 659.^38 The issue is also dealt

with in the second of the three vibhs: the *[Abhidharma]vibh[stra]

«Apitan piposha lun» (T.1546). This text is attributed to Ktyyanputra

and 500 arhats and was translated by Buddhavarman and Daotai

, between 437 and 439.^39

We also possess a third vibh. This text is the oldest of the three

vibh compendia. It is titled *Vibh[stra] and attributed to *Sitapi

(or tapi). It was translated by Saghabhadra, Dharmanandin,

Buddharak a, and Min Zhi in 383 as « Piposha lun» (T.1547).^40

While the first two vibhs mentioned are based on a version of

Ktyyanputra’s work as it was current in Kamra, this third text

is likely to be based on a version of Ktyyanputra’s work as it was

accepted in Bactria and Gandhra.^41 This latter text does not contain a

discussion on the nature of the wheel of the doctrine and its turning.

Three other Sarvstivda texts in which the questions of the nature

of the wheel of the doctrine and its  rst turning are discussed, are the

above mentioned Jñnaprasthna (Source of Knowledge) «Apidamo fazhi

(^36) On the different traditions on the date of compilation of this work, see Nakamura
1980, p. 107; Willemen, Dessein & Cox 1998, pp. 119, 231–232.
(^37) These are the Sa gtiparyya «Apidamo jiyimen zulun» (T.1536), translated by
Xuanzang; the Dharmaskandha «Apidamo fayun zulun» (T.1537), translated by Xuanzang;
the Prajñaptistra «Shishe lun» (T.1538), translated by Dharmapla and Weijing ;
the Vijñnakya «Apidamo shishen zulun» (T.1539), translated by Xuanzang; the Dhtukya
«Apidamo jieshen zulun» (T.1540), translated by Xuanzang; the Prakaraapda «Zhongshifen
apitan lun» (T.1541), translated by Gu abhadra and Bodhiyaas, and «Apidamo pinlei
zulun 38 » (T.1542), translated by Xuanzang. See also Lamotte 1958, pp. 202–203.
T.2154.55.557a18–19, 620c12–16.
(^39) T.2145.55.11b29–c5; T.2154.55.421b14–17.
(^40) T.2145.55.73c3–7.
(^41) See Nakamura 1980, p. 107; Willemen, Dessein & Cox 1998, pp. 234–237.
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