中古佛经翻译“文质之争”的哲学源起

On the Philosophical Origin of the Wen-Zhi Debate in Ancient China’s Sutra Translation

佛经翻译史上的'文质之争'本质上植根于贯穿中国古代哲学的言意理论,是先秦儒道哲学及魏晋玄学言意理论先后在佛经翻译领域的表现形式。佛经翻译初期的'质胜文出'受孔子'言不尽意'论和老子'言道相悖'观的影响,是'重意轻言'哲学思想的体现,同期出现的格义方法也以先秦言意论为哲学基础;在佛经翻译的发展期,译界'文质相兼趋向'的背后驱动力则是'言意并重'思想,是魏晋时期王弼'得意忘言'论在佛经翻译领域的应用。这一时期的格义方法也因此呈不同表现形式,并随着佛经翻译理论的日渐成熟终受摒弃。

Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophical views on Yan-Yi relation,the Wen-Zhi Debate in ancient China’s sutra translation history was in a way a mirror of the development of Yan-Yi theory from Pre-Qin Period(before 221BC)through Wei(220-265),Jin(265-420),Northern and Southern Dynasties(420-589).e Zhi School’s victory over the Wen School in therst ever debate represented the philosophical view that“Yi carries more weight than Yan”,and was a result of influence by Confucius’“Yan cannot express Yi fully”argument and Laozi’s view on the Yan-Dao Paradox.Similar inuence was shown in the way Geyi was applied as a sutra translation strategy in this period.In Wei,Jin,Northern and Southern Dynasties when sutra translation theories underwent development,there appared a noticeable trend characterized by both schools’trying to keep a balance between Wen and Zhi.e driving force behind was the philosophical view that acknowledged the signicance of both Yan and Yi,showing inuence of Wang Bi’s theory about“forgetting Yan once you get Yi”.e once popular translation strategy of Geyi was gradually discarded along with this inuence and with further development of sutra translation theories.