Buddhist studies/Chinese literature PERSONAL SALVATION (Continued from front flap) Also in Clasics in East Asian Buddhism and FILIAL PIETY tion that discusses the origin of the TWO PRECIOUS SCROLL NARRATIVES OF The bodhisattva Avalokiteùvara was Idema text and the genre to which it be- GUANYIN AND HER ACOLYTES a handsome prince when he entered longs and highlights the similarities THE ORIGINS OF BUDDHIST MONASTIC China. As Guanyin, the bodhisattva and differences between the scroll and CODES IN CHINA Translated and with an introduction by was venerated from the eleventh cen- female saints’ lives from medieval Eu- An Annotated Translation and Study of the Chanyuan qinggui Wilt L. Idema tury onward in the shape of a beautiful rope. There follows a translation of Yifa woman who became a universal sav- the much-shorter The Precious Scroll 2002, 408 pages, illus. ior. Throughout the last millennium, of Good-in-Talent and Dragon Girl, Cloth ISBN: 978-0-8248-2494-5 the female Guanyin has enjoyed wide which provides a humorous account and fervid veneration throughout East of how Guanyin acquired the three Asia and has appeared as a major “This book represents a real advance in our understanding of Chinese acolytes—Sudhana, Nagâkanyâ, and a character in literature and legend. Chan and should be on the bookshelf of every scholar of Chinese white parrot—who are often shown In one tale, Guanyin (as the princess Buddhism.” surrounding her in popular prints. Miaoshan) returns from the dead after —Journal of Chinese Religions being executed by the king, her father, As the first English-language transla- for refusing to marry. The most popu- “The translation alone . . . guarantees the work’s lasting value. The tion of major “precious scrolls,” Per- lar version of this legend is The Precious study accompanying it breaks ground in several areas, and will serve as sonal Salvation and Filial Piety will ap- Scroll of Incense Mountain (Xiangshan the basis for further research in years to come.” peal to a wide range of readers—from baojuan), a long narrative in prose —China Review International scholars of Chinese literature to stu- and verse and a work of considerable dents of Buddhism. Beyond the field literary merit. It emphasizes the con- “A solid foundation for further research on the topic. I recommend this of East Asian studies, it will interest flict between father and daughter, in book most highly to all serious students of East Asian Buddhism.” specialists in comparative religion and the course of which all conventional —Journal of Asian Studies literature and feminist theologians. arguments against a religious lifestyle Because of its lively and moving nar- are paraded and rebutted. A lengthy ratives, the text is suitable for courses description of Guanyin’s visit to the on popular Buddhist religiosity (par- underworld, which focuses on the con- ticularly female religiosity) in Chinese flict between grace and justice, is also Jacket art: Anonymous untitled woodblock print depicting Guanyin seated society. included. on Mt. Putuo surrounded by her acolytes. From Wang Shucun, ed., Guanyin baitu (Guangzhou: Lingnan meishu chubanshe, 1995), p. 66. Personal Salvation and Filial Piety of- Jacket design by Santos Barbasa Jr. fers a complete and fully annotated translation of The Precious Scroll of Incense Mountain, based on a nine- Wilt l. idema teaches Chinese litera- University of Hawai‘i Press teenth-century edition. The translation ture at Harvard University. Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822-1888 is preceded by a substantial introduc- (Continued on back flap) Kuroda Institute Classics in East Asian Buddhism www.uhpress.hawaii.edu jack mech.indd 1 1/25/08 11:15:02 AM PERSONAL SALVATION and FILIAL PIETY Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her Acolytes Personal Salvation and Filial Piety CLASSICS IN EAST ASIAN BUDDHISM Personal Salvation and Filial Piety Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her Acolytes Translated and with an introduction by WILT L. IDEMA A KURODA INSTITUTE BOOK University of Hawai‘i Press Honolulu ( 2008 Kuroda Institute All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 13 12 11 10 09 08 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Personal salvation and filial piety : two precious scroll narratives of Guanyin and her acolytes / translated and with an introduction by Wilt L. Idema. p. cm.—(Classics in East Asian Buddhism) Uniform title not available. Includes bibliographical references ISBN 978-0-8248-3215-5 (alk. paper) 1. Avalokitesvara (Buddhist deity) I. Idema, W. L. (Wilt L.) BQ4710.A8P42 2008 0 294.3 422—dc22 2007043306 The Kuroda Institute for the Study of Buddhism and Human Values is a nonprofit, educational corporation founded in 1976. One of its primary objectives is to promote scholarship on the historical, philosophical, and cultural ramifications of Buddhism. In association with the University of Hawai‘i Press, the Institute also publishes Studies in East Asian Buddhism, a series of scholarly investigations of significant themes and topics in the East Asian Buddhist tradition. The Kuroda Institute gratefully acknowledges a generous subsidy from the Harvard University Asia Center toward the publication costs of this book. University of Hawai‘i Press books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Council on Library Resources. Designed by Santos Barbara Jr. Printed by The Maple-Vail Book Manufacturing Group Kuroda Institute Classics in East Asian Buddhism The Record of Tung-Shan William F. Powell Tracing Back the Radiance: Chinul’s Korean Way of Zen Robert E. Buswell Jr. The Great Calming and Contemplation: A Study and Annotated Translation of the First Chapter of Chih-i’s Mo-ho chih-kuan Neal Donner and Daniel Stevenson Inquiry into the Origin of Humanity: An Annotated Translation of Tsung-mi’s Yu¨ an jen lun with a Modern Commentary Peter N. Gregory Zen in Medieval Vietnam: A Study and Translation of the Thie½n Uye¡n Taˆp Anh ˙ Cuong Tu Nguyen Ho¯nen’s Senchakushu¯ : Passages on the Selection of the Nembutsu in the Original Vow Senchakushu¯ English Translation Project The Origins of Buddhist Monastic Codes in China: An Annotated Translation and Study of the Chanyuan qinggui Yifa The Scriptures of Won Buddhism: A Translation of Wo˘nbulgyo kyojo˘n with Introduction Bongkil Chung Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 The Precious Scroll of Incense Mountain, Part 1 45 The Precious Scroll of Incense Mountain, Part 2 99 The Precious Scroll of Good-in-Talent and Dragon Girl 161 Notes 191 Glossary 217 Bibliography 221 vii Acknowledgments My interest in the rich vernacular literature on the bodhisattva Guanyin was first aroused by the publications of Glen Dudbridge, but I only started to pursue this topic in more detail when Mark Meulenbeld decided to devote his MA thesis to a novel on Guanyin from the early years of the twentieth century. Because of our discussions I was stimulated first to read and then to translate The Precious Scroll of Incense Mountain, first into Dutch, and later into English. After I moved from Leiden to Harvard, I twice co-taught a class on Buddhist bianwen with Robert Gimello. I learned a lot from him in this way, and I hope that my enhanced understanding of Buddhism is reflected in the current translations. Beata Grant kindly read through the draft of the complete manuscript, which was greatly improved by her many suggestions on matters of style and content. I also benefited from detailed suggestions by Stephen Teiser and Dan Stevenson. William Bodiford supplied me with the computer font to insert all the diacritics required by publications on Buddhist subjects. I am very grateful to Peter Gregory and the Board of the Ku- roda Institute for their decision to publish this work in their presti- gious series. The comments and corrections of the two anonymous readers were very helpful. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge the efficient production of this book by University of Hawai‘i Press. A special word of thanks is due Joanne Sandstrom for her meticulous copyediting. Needless to say, all remaining defects of this monograph are purely my own. ix