HANNYA SHINGYO-The Heart Sutra: Illusion of a Sacred Text

Description

HANNYA SHINGYO
The Heart Sutra: Illusion of a Sacred Text
A Philological Autopsy of a Buddhist Apocryphon

A rigorous philological investigation that challenges one of Buddhism’s most sacred assumptions.

For more than a thousand years, the Heart Sutra (Hannya Shingyo) has been regarded as one of the most important and influential texts of East Asian Buddhism. Recited daily in countless temples and often presented as the very essence of Prajñāpāramitā wisdom, it occupies a unique place in Buddhist history.

But what do we really know about its origins?

Based on the research of leading international scholars, this book offers a comprehensive critical study of the Heart Sutra. It examines the earliest manuscripts, Chinese translations, Sanskrit sources, and modern academic investigations in order to answer a fundamental question:

Is the Heart Sutra truly an ancient Indian scripture?

The evidence reveals a far more complex history than commonly assumed. The absence of early Sanskrit manuscripts, textual dependence upon Chinese translations, historical inconsistencies, and major philological problems invite a complete reassessment of this celebrated text.

Far from religious polemics, this work presents the historical evidence, textual sources, and scholarly arguments that allow readers to form their own conclusions.

Contents

• History of the Heart Sutra
• Origins and historical context
• Analysis of surviving manuscripts
• Detailed philological investigation
• Comparison of Chinese and Sanskrit versions
• Presentation of the research of Jan Nattier and other international scholars
• Examination of the concept of Buddhist apocrypha in East Asia

Features

Author: Luc Monfort

Publisher: Yinqi Éditions

Format: Digital PDF Edition

Language: English

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