Abstract
This chapter considers the Rāṣṭrapāla's earliest Chinese translation, the third-century rendering by Dharmarakṣa, particularly for what it can reveal about the history of this text over time. In doing so the chapter can tentatively place developments within at least one textual tradition in a time frame more circumscribed than is usually possible with the Indian sources. In addition, the chapter seeks to explicate some of the difficulties that the third-century translators encountered, since it is the translation anomalies that promise to shed the most light on the nature of the earliest source text known to us. In doing so, this chapter also calls into question the many attempts to locate the Mahāyāna and its textual witnesses on the basis of linguistic data alone.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
