Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia

172 henrik h. sørensen

majestic, divine power of the mantras.”^57 The same element of secrecy

applies to other Esoteric Buddhist texts, one of which states: “This

method is secret, and one may not allow a person abhisekạ who has

not obtained proper instruction in it.”

A Dhāraṇī Collection from the Late Tang

Ranking high in importance among the extant collections of Chinese

Buddhist scriptures is the so-called Fangshan Tripitakạ. In contrast to

the other Buddhist text collections, it has been carved on stone slabs,

which were originally kept at Mt. Fang in Hebei province, south

of present-day Beijing.^58 During a survey of the scriptures comprising

this impressive “Stone Tripitaka,” I came across a highly interesting ̣

work entitled Shijiao zuishang sheng bimi zang tuoluoni ji

(Collection of the Secret Storehouse of Dhāraṇīs

of the Highest Vehicle of Buddhism; hereafter Dhāraṇī Collection) in

thirty rolls; this text is not found in either the Taishō or Zokuzōkyō.^59

From the preface to this work, entitled Shijiao zuishang sheng bimi

zang tuoluoni ji xu (Preface to the

Zuishang sheng bimi zang tuoluoni of Buddhism; hereafter Preface

of Dhāraṇī Collection),^60 we learn that it was collated by the monk

Zhaowu Xinglin (fl. second half of the ninth century to early

tenth century),^61 an Esoteric Buddhist master from Da Anguo Temple

in Shangdu (i.e., Chang’an).^62 Although no author for

(^57) T. 966.19:342c.
(^58) There are several useful publications pertaining to the Fangshan Tripitikạ , includ-
ing Beijing tushuguan jinshi zu and Zhongguo fojiao tushu wenwuguan shijing zu,
ed. 1987; and Zhongguo fojiao xiehui, comp. 1978. See also Zhongguo fojiao xiehui
Fangshan shijing zhengli yanjiu zu, ed. 1986. 59
Zhonghua dazang jing , 1619.68:500–675. Cf. Zhongguo fojiao xie-
hui, comp. 1978, pls. 60a–2b, 95. The stone slabs were carved in 1147 C.E. during the
Jin dynasty (1125–1234). Cf. Zhongguo fojiao xiehui, comp. 1978, pl. 62b.
(^60) Cf. Zhongguo fojiao xiehui, comp. 1978, pls. 60a–2b, 95. The stone slabs were
carved in 1147 C.E. during the Jin dynasty (1125–1234). Cf. Zhongguo fojiao xiehui,
comp. 1978, pl. 62b. 61
For additional biographical information, see Mikkyō daijiten (hereafter MDJ),
1603c. 62
One of the important temples in the Tang capital whose history is associated with
Esoteric Buddhism. See MDJ (1968–1970), 44bc. During the Huichang suppression
of Buddhism it was converted into an imperial garden. Cf. Weinstein 1987b, 132. It
is also important to note here that a hoard of high-quality Esoteric Buddhist images
in marble have been recovered from the grounds of the site. For a discussion of this
material, see Sørensen, “Esoteric Buddhist art under the Tang,” in this volume.