. esoteric buddhism under the liao 457
Extensive Secrets of the Meaning of the Vairocana Sūtra)^3 from 1070
C.E., written by Jueyuan (fl. late eleventh century);^4 and the
Xianmi yuantong chengfo xin yaoji (Collection
of the Perfect and Complete Buddha’s Mind Essentials according to the
Manifest and Esoteric Buddhist Traditions),^5 authored by Daochen
(fl. late eleventh–early twelfth centuries).^6 Both works were important
in shaping the type of Esoteric Buddhism that developed under the Liao.
Moreover, the former work was imported to Korea and included in
the important scriptural catalogue Sin’pyŏnchejong kyojang ch’ongnok
(Comprehensive Record of the Scriptural Collec-
tions of All Schools and Teachings Newly Compiled),^7 by the royal
prince and monk Uich’ŏn (1055–1101).
The hoard of Buddhist scriptures engraved in stone from Fang-
shan in Hebei includes many Esoteric Buddhist texts and spells
that were perpetuated under the Liao.^8 A good deal of this material is
directly related to Esoteric Buddhism and indicates that the Khitan
had in large measure access to the same scriptures as did the Chinese
to the south. To what extent they made use of this resource we can
only speculate, but there are strong indications that the scriptures
associated with the Zhenyan tradition of the Tang exercised consid-
erable influence on the formation of Khitan Esoteric Buddhism. The
degree to which the elaborate Esoteric Buddhist rituals practiced by
Amoghavajra and his followers, and the associated paraphernalia,
were ever transmitted to the Liao remains an open question, however.
Esoteric Buddhist scriptures translated under the Liao and included in
the Fangshan material features the Da shuiqiu tuoluoni
(Mahāpratisarā-dhāraṇī),^9 the Yiqie rulai Baisangai da foding tuoluoni
(White Umbrella Buddos ṇ̣īsa-̣ dhāraṇī
(^3) ZZ (1975–1989) 439.37:1–275.
(^4) For a brief biography, see FDC, vol. 7, pp. 6797c–98a.
(^5) T. 1955.
(^6) This important monk was active at Jinhe Temple on “Small Mt. Wutai.”
For a note on him and his role in Huayan/Esoteric Buddhist synthesis, see Gimello
1994, 501–612 (cf. esp. 509, n. 16). As noted by Gimello, Daochen’s name is some-
times wrongly rendered “Daoshuo 7 .”
T. 2184.55:1166a–1178c (cf. p. 1168b).
(^8) For this material, cf. Zhongguo fojiao xiehui Fangshan shijing zhengli yanjiu zu,
ed. 1986. See also Lu 1995, 492.
(^9) Zhonghua dazang jing (Zhonghua Tripit aka), vol. 1612.68:456–59.̣