「普庵咒」における悉曇字母について : 佛敎眞言の中國化の一例

Abstract

In this paper, the source and construction of the Mantra of Pu'an, one of the most popular Buddhist mantras in sinicized Sanskrit, attributed to the twelfth century Zen Master, are examined. Although the language of the mantra was described as "bastard Sanskrit, " the construction of the mantra is clearly modeled on Sanskrit phonetics, as well as the content of a textbook on Sanskrit orthography known as Xitan zhang or "Chapter of Siddham" which was widely circulated in Central Asia and China during the first millennium. Furthermore, the mantra is shown to be connected with Dharmks ema's translation of the Mahāparinirvān asūtra where the Sanskrit alphabet was described, and also the tradition of religio-magical chanting of the Arapacana alphabet described in the Buddhāvatam sakasūtra. Ultimately, to complete the process of sinicization, the Mantra of Pu'an was written down, canonized in one of the Chinese Tripit akas and even "resanskritized" with Chinese pronunciation, which was thought to be authentic and authoritative.