On Shi (実) as it appears in 'gui yi zhi shi' (帰一之実) in the Commentary on the Miao-fa-lian-hua-jing (妙法蓮華経) written by Zhu Dao-sheng (竺道生)

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  • 竺道生における帰一の「実」について　―『妙法蓮花経疏』を中心にして―

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Zhu Dao-sheng (竺道生) was a prominent Chinese student of Kumarajiva. Among several writings current commentary is one that is only available today in its entirety. Dao-sheng uses the word shi (実) in a quite interesting manner by attempting to convey fo-zhi-jian (仏知見), the buddha's wisdom. As far as I know, shi has never been discussed from this viewpoint. This viewpoint, however, is very significant because it can lead to a new interpretation of shi-xiang (実相) which attracted considerable attention of Buddhists and Buddhist scholars of later ages ; and thereby became one of the most important terms of the traditional doctrine of the Miao-fa-lian-hua-jing (妙法蓮華経)-a Chinese version of the Lotus Sutra. Traditionally shi-xiang is translated as 'reality' or 'real aspect.' Dao-sheng also discusses this term in his commentary and uses it to express fo-zhi-jian in a very different meaning from the tradition. Dao-sheng's commentary on the Miao-fa-lian-hua jing will certainly reveal a new paradigm for its interpretation. I came across this viewpoint by noticing two related words in the couplet-like sentences located in the beginning of this commentary. The first sentence gives an accurate botanical description of the lotus flower by using zi (子) in relation with the lotus flower. The second sentence gives a description of the central idea of the Sutra by adding shi at the end of the phrase 'gui yi zhi (帰一之)' therefore meaning 'the fruit of returning as one vehicle (一乗).' By studying the usage of zi before and after Dao-sheng's era, a conclusion is made where zi means 'fruit' when it appears together with the lotus flower. This elucidates the meaning of the related word shi. Furthermore, this shi is one of many other shis that bear the meaning 'fruit' in Dao-sheng's commentary. I then examined the context where shi appears and came to the conclusion that in cases where shi is used in a buddhological sense-shi is meant to be fo-zhi-jian.

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