The research topic of this paper is the usage of the word “suo” (所)in the “Yin Chi Ru Jing”. The contents include: extending the usage of “suo” from the ancient Chinese usage; the special usage of “Suo”; the usage statistics of “suo”; its appearance and analysis; relevant conclusions.
This paper makes a comprehensive annotation of the term “suo” in the “Yin Chi Ru Jing” by comparing Chinese and Pali scriptures. Through discussing the usage of the word “suo” and analyzing the phenomena it presents, it then argues that: An Shigao basically understands the usage of the word “suo” in the ancient Chinese usage at that time, the special usage of the word “suo” may come from An Shigao’s initiative creation, instead of “misuse”; the special usage of the word “suo” shows a mixed language phenomenon, which may come from An Shigao’s strategy of translating scriptures.
Based on the above understanding, this paper questions the viewpoint that An Shigao’s translation of Sutras comes from the spoken language, and will put forward more arguments in the future to support the point of view of this article.
Keywords:
the usage of “suo” (所), Chinese Buddhist translation in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Yin Chi Ru Jing, An Shigao, Chinese language in Buddhist texts