The Concept of Dharmakāya in the Ta-Gh'eng Ta-I Chang

Abstract

<p>The misunderstandings between Kumārajīva and Hui-yüan about the term dharmakāya in the Ta-ch'eng ta-i chang center around four things: ontology versus epistemology; practicality versus speculation; the use of the Abhidharma; and the attitude of the two men toward the texts they were citing. Previous research on the topic has focused on the difference between the Indian and Chinese mentalities and ignored the different roles played by Kumārajīva and Hui-yüan in their respective communities. The sections of the Ta-ch'eng ta-i chgns which deal with dharmakāya (1-8,13,18) have been translated.</p>