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Lives of the nuns

biographies of Chinese Buddhist nuns from the fourth to sixth centuries : a translation of the Pi-ch'iu-ni chuan
  
  
  
  
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INDEX
  
  

181

INDEX

Persons and Place Names

  • Ānanda, Buddha's disciple, 133 n. 92

  • Central Asia: and importance in spread of
    Buddhism, 117 n. 13

  • Chang, Empress (Madame Ho), 26

  • Chang, Lady, mother of prince of Lin-ch'uan,
    101

  • Chang Chün, 94

  • Chang Pien, governor of Yü-chang, 39

  • Chang Tai, governor of I Province, 71

  • Ch'ang-an: convents in, 6;

    • sacked by
      nomads, 3

  • Ch'ao-ming, nun, 83-84

  • Ch'ao-pien, Master of the Law, 59

  • Chen Fa-ch'ung, governor of I Province,
    92

  • Chiang, Madame, wife of Wang Lu:
    composed eulogy, 73

  • Chieh-jen, nun, 101

  • Chien-wen, emperor of Chin, 30

  • Chih-hsien, nun, 21-23

  • Chih-shan, monk of Kashmir, 18

  • Chih-sheng, nun, 73-76

  • Chih-yüeh, monk, 95-96

  • Ching-ai, nun, 58

  • Ching-ch'eng, nun, 48, 55-56

  • Ching-chien, nun: as first Chinese Buddhist
    nun, 5, 17-19, 21, 62

  • Ching-hsien, nun, 97-98

  • Ching-hsing, nun, 99-100

  • Ching-hsiu, nun, 10, 87-91, 101;

    • as
      Master of Meditation, 88;

    • sources and
      versions of, 109

  • Ching-hui, nun, 78-79

  • Ching-kuei, nun, 80-81;

    • and asceticism
      expressed in suicide by fire, 16

  • Ching-lien, nun, 78

  • Ching-yüan, nun, 98, 99

  • Chou Ying, scholar, 106, 151 n. 103

  • Ch'u, Empress, consort of K'ang, 28

  • Ch'ü An-yüan, fortune-teller, 31

  • Convent: Bamboo Garden, 61, 86, 99;

    • Bamboo Grove in Lo-yang, 18;

    • Bamboo
      Grove in Tung-hsiang of Shan-yang,
      55;

    • Beckoning Clarity, 106;

    • Black River, 30;

    • Brightness of Ch'i, 72,
      84, 86, 105;

    • Built by the Multitude, 70;

    • Capital Office, 95;

    • Central, 51;

    • Chu-ko
      Village, 45, 46;

    • Collected Goodness,
      82, 97;

    • Cowherd, 39;

    • Eastern, 29;

    • Eastern Green Garden, 78, 86, 97;

    • Empress Dowager, 41;

    • Empress Ho,
      26, 35, 100;

    • Establishing Blessings, 25,
      27, 38, 40-41, 71, 74;

    • Establishing
      Peace, 62, 69;

    • Establishing Splendor,
      44;

    • Eternal Blessings, 63;

    • Eternal
      Peace, 50, 58;

    • Eternal Sanctity, 70;

    • Expanding Nation, 44;

    • Field of Blessings,
      82;

    • Flower Garland, 72;

    • Flower
      Grove, 76;

    • Foundation for Meditation,
      76;

    • Founding of Wisdom, 21;

    • Great
      Mysterious Terrace, 42, 56;

    • Green
      Garden, 58, 77, 88, 89;

    • Increasing Joy,
      28;

    • Jeta Grove, 41;

    • Joyful Peace, 103;

    • Kingdom, 85;

    • Luminous Blessings, 36,
      53, 59, 62;

    • Meditation Grove, 89, 91,
      97, 101;

    • New Grove, 31;

    • North Peak,
      23;

    • Northern Everlasting Peace, 26;

    • Peak Mountain, 105;

    • Reflecting Brightness
      on White Mountain, 86;

    • Samantabhadra,
      78;

    • Simple Tranquility, 33;

    • Solitude, 102;

    • South, 48;

    • Southern
      Chin-ling, 100;

    • Southern Eternal
      Peace, 68, 85;

    • Southern Peace, 43;

    • Three-story, 60, 81;

    • Ti Mountain, 104;

    • Universal Wisdom, 62, 64;

    • Venerating
      Seculsion, 84;

    • Voice of the Teaching,
      79, 80, 84;

    • West, 21;

    • Western, 69;


    • 182

    • Western Green Garden, 103;

    • Wonderful
      Appearance, 76

  • Fa-ch'eng, monk, 51

  • Fa-ching, nun, 64

  • Fa-ching, nun: and intrigue against government,
    86

  • Fa-ch'üan, nun, 77;

    • as teacher of great
      influence, 16

  • Fa-hsiang, nun, 56

  • Fa-hsüan, nun, 105-106

  • Fa-hui, Master of the Law, 95-96,
    146 n. 49

  • Fa-lin, nun, 58

  • Fa-pien, nun, 59-60;

    • excelled in meditation,
      16

  • Fa-sheng, nun, 7, 38-39

  • Fa-sheng, nun, 48-49

  • Fa-tsang, nun, 84

  • Fa-yen, nun, 77

  • Fa-yin, Master of Meditation, 76, 77,
    101

  • Fa-ying, Master of Monastic Rules, 63,
    88

  • Fa-yüan, Master of Exegesis, 77, 78

  • Fa-yüan, nun, 67-68;

    • sources and versions
      of, 109

  • Feng, Nun, 95-96;

    • extract from Ming
      seng chuan,
      107

  • Fo-t'u-teng, foreign missionary monk
    from Kucha, 18, 20-21, 117 n. 10

  • Fu Chien, emperor of Former Ch'in, 22,
    56

  • Gunavarman, missionary monk from
    Central Asia, 36-37, 54, 62, 85, 89,
    128 n. 6

  • Hsiao Chao-chou, Ch'i prince of Pa-ling,
    106

  • Hsiao Ch'eng-chih, 43

  • Hsiao I, prince of Yü-chang, 81

  • Hsiao-wu, emperor of Chin, 31, 32, 33

  • Hsiao-wu, emperor of Sung, 62, 91

  • Hsiao Yüan-chien, Liang prince of Heng-yang,
    106

  • Hsüan-ch'ang, Master of Meditation,
    82

  • Hsüan-tsao, nun, 42

  • Hua-kuang, nun, 95

  • Huan Hsüan, 33-34

  • Hui-chan, nun, 25, 27

  • Hui-chi, Master of the Law, 106

  • Hui-chih, monk, 43

  • Hui-ch'iung, nun, 43-44;

    • incorrupt body
      of, 12, 44;

    • sources and versions of, 109

  • Hui-chün, nun, 61

  • Hui-hsi, Master of the Law, 106

  • Hui-hsing, nun, 78

  • Hui-hsü, nun, 81-83, 97

  • Hui-hui, nun, 103-104

  • Hui-i, Hui-kuo's disciple, 37-38

  • Hui-k'ai, Hui-kuo's disciple, 37-38

  • Hui-kao, nun, 98

  • Hui-kuo, nun, 36-38, 59, 62-63

  • Hui-li, nun, 101

  • Hui-ming, Master of the Law, 79

  • Hui-mu, nun, 45-48;

    • sources and versions
      of, 109

  • Hui-sheng, nun, 96-97

  • Hui-tz'u, Master of the Law, 103

  • Hui-yao, nun, 65-66;

    • and suicide by fire,
      12, 65

  • Hui-yin, nun, 104

  • Hui-yü, nun, 39-40;

    • sources and versions
      of, 109

  • Hui-yüan, monk, 34;

    • and Pure Land
      School, 127 n. 107

  • I-k'ang, prince of P'eng-ch'eng, 85

  • I-kung, prince of Chiang-hsia, 61

  • India, 66;

    • nuns in, 37. See also
      Sanghavarman

  • K'ang, emperor of Chin, 28

  • Kashmir, 18, 90

  • Kuang-ching, nun, 50-51

  • Kuang-ching, nun, 79

  • Kucha, 20, 95

  • K'ung Hsi-hsien: and intrigue against
    government, 86

  • K'ung Mo, provincial governor, 68, 70


  • 183

  • Lin-ch'uan, prince of (Liu I-ch'ing), 101,
    149 n. 77

  • Ling-hui, nun, 101

  • Ling-pien, Yang. See Yang Ling-pien

  • Ling-shou, nun, 20-21

  • Ling-tsung, nun, 31

  • Ling-yü, nun, 100-101

  • Liu Ch'iu, appointed court scholar, 60

  • Liu I-ch'ing, 101, 149 n. 77

  • Liu Liang, 65;

    • as Taoist immortal,
      136 n. 131

  • Lo-yang: convents in, 6;

    • sacked by
      nomads, 3;

    • translation center at, 2

  • Mahāprajāpatī, the Buddha's stepmother:
    as first Buddhist nun in the world, 15,
    37;

    • taking eight special prohibitions, 54

  • Ming, emperor of Chin, 30

  • Ming, emperor of Sung, 62, 64, 70, 89, 98

  • Ming-kan, nun, 24-25

  • Miao-chih, nun, 72-73

  • Miao-hsiang, nun, 23-24;

    • as teacher of
      great influence, 16

  • Miao-wei, nun, 102-103

  • Miao-yin, nun, 33-34, 111

  • Monastery: Chaturdesha, 91;

    • Eminent
      Dais, 44;

    • Gold Flower, 95;

    • Grass Hall,
      97;

    • Grove of Concentration on Bell
      Mountain, 73;

    • Grove of the Way, 59,
      79;

    • Hedge Garden, 86;

    • North Chang,
      84;

    • P'eng-ch'eng, 40, 90;

    • Pottery
      Office, 40, 69, 73;

    • Prospering of Chin,
      63;

    • Sheh Mountain, 75;

    • Site of the
      Way, 38;

    • Six Prohibitions, 40;

    • Southern
      Establishing Joy, 40;

    • Southern
      Grove, 54, 63;

    • Spiritual Root, 97;

    • Splendidly Adorned, 74;

    • Upper Grove
      of Concentration on Bell Mountain,
      59, 75

  • Mu, emperor of Chin, 26

  • Nan-t'i, boat captain from Sri Lanka, 53,
    54

  • Pao-ch'ang. See Shih Pao-ch'ang

  • Pao-hsien, nun, 62-64

  • Pao-liang, Master of the Law, 99

  • Pao-ying, nun, 58

  • Pao-yung, nun, 98

  • P'eng-ch'eng: as early center of Buddhism,
    2, 116 n. 3

  • P'u-chao, nun, 44-45

  • P'u-ching, Seng-tuan's disciple, 50

  • P'u-yao, Seng-tuan's disciple, 50, 68

  • Sanghavarman, missionary monk from
    India, 38, 54, 63, 86, 128 n. 10

  • Scythians, 19. See also Yüeh-chih

  • Seng-chi, nun, 27-28;

    • maintaining chastity,
      16

  • Seng-ching, nun, 69-70;

    • and eulogy by
      Shen Yüeh, 137 n. 13;

    • and source of
      eulogy, 109

  • Seng-hua, nun, 61

  • Seng-jou, Master of the Law, 103, 106

  • Seng-kai, nun, 76-77

  • Seng-kuo, nun, 53-55;

    • excelled in meditation,
      16

  • Seng-lü, nun, 78

  • Seng-mao, nun, 86

  • Seng-meng, nun, 71

  • Seng-nien, nun, 91-92

  • Seng-pien, nun, 60

  • Seng-shen, Master of Meditation, 76, 77,
    101

  • Seng-shu, nun, 101-102

  • Sen-tsung, Master of the Law, 74, 77, 99

  • Seng-tuan, nun, 49-50;

    • maintaining
      chastity, 16

  • Seng-yao, nun, 79

  • Seng-yüan, Master of the Law, 75

  • Seng-yüan, nun, 72

  • Shan-miao, nun, 51-53;

    • and asceticism
      expressed in suicide by fire, 16

  • Shao-ling, prince of, 100

  • Shen Yu-chih, governor of Ching Province,
    81

  • Shen Yüeh, 153 n. 24;

    • as author of a nun's
      biography, 109;

    • as author of a nun's
      eulogy, 70, 109, 137 n. 13

  • Shih Hu, emperor of Latter Chao, 21

  • Shih Lo, emperor of Latter Chao, 21


  • 184

  • Shih Pao-ch'ang: access to nuns, 8;

    • comments
      in biographies, 36, 53, 83, 8586;

    • as compiler of Ching lü yi hsiang,
      108;

    • as compiler of Lives of the Nuns,
      1, 107;

    • as compiler of Ming seng chuan,
      107;

    • and reasons for compiling the
      Lives of the Nuns, 15-16

  • Shūshō, Japanese monk, 107

  • Sri Lanka: Buddhist nuns from, 53, 54,
    86

  • T'an-ch'e, nun, 68-69

  • T'an-chi, Master of the Law, 78, 103

  • T'an-chien, nun, 79-80, 84

  • T'an-hui, nun, 7, 92-95

  • T'an-lan, nun: and intrigue against government,
    86

  • T'an-mo-chieh-to, foreign monk, 19

  • T'an-pei, nun, 26, 28

  • T'an-pin, Master of the Law, 74, 103

  • T'an-yin, Yeh-shou's disciple, 58-59

  • T'an-yung, nun, 84-85

  • Tao-chao, nun, 60

  • Tao-ch'iung, nun, 7, 40-41

  • Tao-hsing, nun, 29-30

  • Taoist Master of Pure Water, 30

  • Tao-jung, nun, 30-31;

    • sources and
      versions of, 109

  • Tao-kuei, nun, 104-105

  • Tao-shou, nun, 41

  • Tao-tsung, nun, 60

  • Tao-tzu, prince of Kuei-chi, 33

  • Tao-yi, nun, 34-35

  • Teh-leh, nun, 85-86, 105

  • Te-sheng, nun, 83

  • Tessara, nun from Sri Lanka, 54, 63, 70

  • Wang Ch'en, 33-34

  • Wang Kung, 33-34

  • Wang Lun of Lang-yeh, 73

  • Wang P'u-yang, Taoist master, 30

  • Wang T'an-chih, 58

  • Wen, emperor of Sung, 58, 62, 85, 86,
    91, 97

  • Wen-hsüan, prince of Ching-ling, 70, 73,
    75, 77, 78, 79, 90, 92, 99, 102, 105

  • Wen-hui, Ch'i heir apparent, 70, 74, 75,
    76, 78, 79, 90, 98, 102

  • Wu, emperor of Ch'i, 73, 82

  • Wu, emperor of Sung, 58

  • Yang Ling-pien, Taoist murderess, 29-30

  • Yeh-shou, nun, 57, 88

  • Yin Chung-k'an, 34

  • Yü Yung, scholar, 106

  • Yüch-chih, 117 n. 13

General Subjects

  • Animals: concourse with indicating
    holiness, 22-23, 24-45, 32, 44,
    55, 72;

    • freeing, 102;

    • and Taoism,
      125 n. 91

  • Apologetics, Buddhist, 4

  • Assemblies, four Buddhist: established in
    China for the first time, 25

  • Assembly of Nuns, 19;

    • and Assembly of
      Monks, 1, 6;

    • and obstacles to entry, 1;

    • ranking of, 99;

    • requirements for admission,
      37;

    • and state, 5, 13. See also
      Monastic life; Monastic rules; Precepts;
      Prohibitions

  • Begging: for alms, 18, 32, 79;

    • for medicine,
      48

  • Begging bowl and staff: as symbol of
    monastic life, 35, 127 n. 114

  • Biographical writing: and prototypes for
    the Lives of the Nuns, 110;

    • purposes
      of, 109;

    • tradition in China, 109

  • Buddha's name: repeating (nien fo),
    49

  • Buddhism: and apologetics, 4;

    • and Confucianism,
      4;

    • and entry into China, 2;

    • and meaning for Chinese, 12-13;

    • positive evidence for, 2;

    • proof of truth
      of promises, 12, 32;

    • reasons for acceptance
      of, 3-4;

    • and social class, 3;

    • and
      state, 5, 13;

    • and Taoism, 2, 3-5, 10,
      11, 13, 29-30

  • Buddhist path: and first fruit (srotāpanna-phala),
    53, 132 n. 86;

    • and nirvana, 21,


      185

      85;

    • and third fruit (anāgāmin), 96,
      147 n. 52

  • Burial, 70, 76, 97, 100, 102, 104, 105

  • Chanting of scriptures. See Scriptures,
    chanting

  • Chastity: maintaining, 16, 22, 24, 74

  • Ch'u san-tsang chi chi (Collected notes on
    the translation of the Buddhist scriptures
    into Chinese), 107

  • Collected Notes on the Translation of the
    Buddhist Scriptures into Chinese
    (Ch'u
    san-tsang chi chi), 107

  • Commentaries to texts written by nun, 74

  • Complete Collection of Books and
    Records Ancient and Modern
    (Ku chin
    t'u shu chi ch'eng), 108-109

  • Compositions written by nuns, 33, 91, 95

  • Condensed T'ang k'ai-yüan reign period
    catalogue of Buddhist Writings
    (K'ai-yüan
    shih chiao lu), 107

  • Confession, 25, 42, 44, 46, 51, 55, 63,
    71, 89, 97, 104

  • Confucianism: and Buddhism, 4;

    • education
      in classics of, 23, 40;

    • and filial
      piety, 20, 23, 26, 41, 45, 47, 48;

    • and
      five classics, 84, 142 n. 72;

    • and mourning,
      62, 71;

    • and philosophical foundation
      of country, 3;

    • and quotation from
      Confucius, 56, 148 n. 65;

    • and quotation
      from Classic of History, 76

  • Convents: and connection to Assembly of
    Monks, 6;

    • and effects of location, 6;

    • first, 5-6;

    • importance of, 8;

    • and interference
      from state, nobility, and aristocracy,
      6;

    • social usefulness of, 6;

    • and
      status of independence, 6

  • Cult practices, 9

  • Death: manner of, 11;

    • chopping up body
      after, 43;

    • and revival, 45, 71, 131 n. 63;

    • Taoist, 12, 19, 31, 126 n. 96, 130 n. 41

  • Dharmaguptaka Monastic Rules in Four
    Divisions,
    46

  • Diet of nuns: arrowroot and taro in, 62;

    • cereals in, 10;

    • and forgotten taste of
      food, 80;

    • fragrant oils in, 10, 65;

    • hemp
      and sesame in, 135 n. 113;

    • incense in,
      10;

    • no flesh or strong-flavored vegetables
      in, 43, 59, 61, 87, 103, 104;

    • no
      fine food in, 51;

    • no food at all in, 10,
      80;

    • no sweet or fat food in, 51;

    • one dish
      of vegetables a day in, 76;

    • parts of pine
      tree in, 10, 51;

    • plain vegetables and
      coarse rice in, 71;

    • sesame and mountain
      thistles in, 56;

    • Taoist influence in, 10,
      135 n. 113, 136 n. 118;

    • water only in,
      98. See also Feasts and fasts, vegetarian;

    • Vegetarianism

  • Discourse on Abhidharma, 99

  • Discourse on the Completion of Reality,
    99, 103

  • Divination, 30-31

  • Divine figures, gods, and their abodes:
    Amita Buddha, 9, 33, 38-39, 48,
    129 n. 16;

    • Bodhisattva Kuan-shih-yin,
      9, 27, 32, 39, 42, 50;

    • Bodhisattva P'u-hsien
      (Samantabhadra), 41;

    • Bodhisattva
      Ta-shih-chih, 39;

    • Buddha, 2, 4,
      49;

    • Maitreya (Buddha-to-be), 9-10,
      40, 42, 51;

    • Pindola (Holy Monk), 910,
      75, 89, 90, 139 n. 38;

    • Sāgara
      Dragon King Brothers, 90;

    • spirits of,
      68, 71, 88;

    • and Tushita Heaven (of
      Maitreya), 9-10, 42, 51, 88, 90, 91,
      130 n. 40;

    • and Western Paradise or Pure
      Land (of Amita Buddha), 9-10, 33,
      38-39, 48, 67, 125 n. 95

  • Dreams, 32, 39, 46, 59, 88, 90, 91

  • Dress. See Robes and dress

  • Duty, woman's: traditional conception of,
    119 n. 22

  • Education and literacy among nuns, 7

  • Enlightenment and Buddhahood for
    women, 1

  • Faith, Buddhist: brings response and
    proof of Buddhist claims, 9;

    • established
      during a former life, 53;

    • man of devout,
      28; pure, 26, 31;

    • in religion and practice,
      44, shallow, 18;

    • spreads kindness,


      186

      103;

    • upon first hearing Buddhist teaching,
      17

  • Fa yüan chu lin (Forest of pearls in the
    garden of the law), 107, 108, 109

  • Feasts and fasts, vegetarian, 20, 22, 23,
    31, 39, 42, 75, 83, 90. See also Diet;

    • Vegetarianism

  • Field of merit, 9, 57

  • Flowers and holiness, 30

  • Foreknowledge, 96;

    • of death, 75

  • Forest of Pearls in the Garden of the Law
    (Fa yüan chu lin), 107, 108, 109

  • Forged books, 4-5

  • Former life, 20, 42, 53, 68, 82

  • Immortality, 12

  • Incorrupt body, 12, 44

  • Inexhaustible treasury, 95, 145 n. 43

  • K'ai-yüan shih chiao lu (T'ang k'ai-yüan
    reign period collection of Buddhist
    writings), 107

  • K'ai-yüan shih chiao lu lüeh ch'u (Condensed
    T'ang k'ai-yüan reign period
    catalogue of Buddhist writings), 107

  • Kao seng chuan (Lives of eminent
    monks), 6, 107;

    • compared to the Lives
      of the Nuns,
      12

  • Ku chin t'u shu chi ch'eng (Complete
    collection of books and records ancient
    and modern), 108-109

  • Lantern Festival: origins of, 136 n. 132.
    See also Moon, phases of

  • Lieh nü chuan (Lives of illustrious
    women), 110

  • Li tai san pao chi (Records of the Three
    Treasures through the ages), 107

  • Lives of Eminent Monks (Kao seng
    chuan), 6, 107

  • Lives of Famous Monks (Ming seng
    chuan), 107

  • Lives of Illustrious Women (Lieh nü
    chuan), 110

  • Lives of the Nuns: and biographies as
    proof of the Buddhist way, 111;

    • Buddhist
      texts as models for, 111;

    • compared
      to Lieh nü chuan (Lives of illustrious
      women), 110-111;

    • date of, 108;

    • importance of, 107;

    • organization and
      content of, 1;

    • and secular influence,
      111;

    • sources of, 108-109

  • Lo-yang ch'ieh-lan chi (Record of monasteries
    and convents in Lo-yang), 6

  • Magic, 20, 30;

    • in Buddhism and Taoism,
      4

  • Mahāprajāpatī Scripture: and model for
    women, 111

  • Mahīshāsaka-vinaya (Wu fen lü), 112

  • Marriage: rejection of, 7, 20, 26, 28, 49,
    84, 92, 105

  • Meditation: competence in, 16;

    • five ways
      or five gates of, 97, 147 n. 54;

    • as heart
      of monastic life, 11;

    • and Taoism, 11,
      134 n. 96;

    • and trance in activity, 104;

    • and trance of immobility, 11, 53, 55,
      57, 59;

    • of visualizing the Buddha in
      one's presence, 81, 141 n. 62

  • Ming seng chuan (Lives of famous
    monks), 107

  • Misogyny in Buddhism, 1

  • Monastic life: and beginnings for men in
    China, 5;

    • and beginnings for women in
      China, 1;

    • four essentials of, 82, 92, 98,
      141 n. 66;

    • and investigation by state, 5;

    • and translation of monastic rules, 5.
      See also Begging;

    • Begging bowl and
      staff; Burial;

    • Burning; Cult practice;

    • Diet;

    • Meditation;

    • Monastic rules;

    • Robe
      and begging bowl;

    • Robes and dress;

    • Scriptures, chanting; Suicide;

    • Teaching;

    • Tonsure; Vegetarianism;

    • Visions; Vow

  • Monastic rules (vinaya): and authenticity
    of lineage, 9;

    • bestowing full obligation
      for rules upon nuns, 18;

    • and five sectarian
      divisions, 100, 148 n. 70;

    • lack of,
      hindering formation of Assembly of
      Nuns, 2;

    • number of, for nuns, 18,
      116 n. 6;

    • purpose of, 9;

    • transmission
      of, 9, 18, 19, 37-38, 54, 62-63, 70,
      86, 89


  • 187

  • Monasticism: and success as an institution,
    12

  • Moon, phases of, as auspicious dates:
    eighth day, fourth month (Buddha's
    birthday), 51, 76, 40, 52;

    • eighth day,
      second month (Buddha's final nirvana),
      19, 67, 79-80, 80-81;

    • fifteenth day,
      first month (Lantern Festival), 65, 67;

    • fifteenth day, ninth month, 67;

    • fifteenth
      day, second month (Buddha's
      final nirvana), 85;

    • and suicide, 12

  • Mother of Monasticism Scripture: teaching
    of, 103

  • Murder, 30, 99

  • Nuns: famous vs. ordinary, 8;

    • lives as
      proof of truth of Buddhist scriptures,
      12;

    • Mahāprajāpatī as first nun in the
      world, 15, 37;

    • as models, 15-16

  • Offices: director of conventual affairs in
    the capital, 64;

    • rector of assembly, 62,
      63

  • Omens: character for Buddha as, 76;

    • evil,
      30;

    • good (as signs of spiritual accomplishment),
      19, 22-23, 25, 39, 40, 41,
      51, 55, 68, 88, 89

  • Philosophers, Hundred schools of nonBuddhist,
    95

  • Pine tree: eating parts of, 10;

    • and immortality,
      10

  • Poem composed by nun, 83

  • Precepts: eight, 31, 69, 125 n. 83;

    • five,
      24, 41, 87, 122 n. 52, 143 n. 5;

    • ten, of a
      bodhisattva, 139 n. 35;

    • ten, of a novice,
      18, 45, 46, 100, 116 n. 7

  • Prohibitions: eight special, for women,
    54, 133 n. 92; six, 129 n. 26

  • Pure Talk, 29, 124 n. 74

  • Record of Monasteries and Convents in
    Lo-yang
    (Lo-yang ch'ieh-lan chi), 6

  • Records of the Three Treasures through
    the Ages
    (Li tai san pao chi), 107

  • Refuges, three: called upon for help, 32;

    • ceremony of taking, 58;

    • to drive away
      nightmares, 97;

    • keep mind fixed on,
      24;

    • offering body to, 65, 80;

    • offer
      obeisance to, 15;

    • spiritual power of,
      31, 42

  • Relics. See Sharīra

  • Revelation: of doctrine, 34-35, 93,
    144 n. 32;

    • of texts, 67, 127 n. 112

  • Rituals for Entering Monastic Life, 46

  • Robe and begging bowl: as symbols of
    monastic life, 31, 74, 75

  • Robes and dress: to conceal body only,
    77;

    • dyed robes with mud, 90;

    • expensive
      vestments, 21;

    • fine clothing, 36, 52,
      62, 87;

    • finely embroidered outer robes,
      22;

    • hempen clothing, 89;

    • rough and
      ragged monastic robes, 27, 35, 104;

    • same clothing in heat and cold, 76;

    • straw sandals and hempen robes, 43;

    • traditional color for robes in China,
      144 n. 17;

    • traditionally made from
      rags, 120 n. 27;

    • worn-out clothing, 59

  • Samādhi, 79;

  • thoughts in, 93

  • Saving living beings, 49, 72, 79, 104

  • Schools of Buddhism: Disciples' Vehicle
    (Hīnayāna, Small Vehicle), 1, 39,
    113 n. 4, 121 n. 50;

    • Great Vehicle
      (Mahāyāna), 1, 24, 39, 58, 77, 78, 93,
      113 n. 4;

    • 121 n. 50, 129 n. 29,

    • Mahāsānghika
      Sect, 19;

    • Sarvāstivada Sect,
      103;

    • Theravāda School, 113 n. 4,
      122 n. 50

  • Scriptures, chanting: 10, 11, 22, 24, 29,
    41, 42, 49, 50, 101, 103, 104;

    • speed
      of, 11, 22, 34, 45, 50, 91, 95;

    • during
      suicide, 60, 65;

    • superior skill in, 68

  • Scriptures, chanting from memory, 21,
    29, 34, 45, 50, 74;

    • number of, 55;

    • and
      sanctity, 11

  • Scriptures, popular: Bodhisattva Kuanshih-yin
    Scripture,
    24, 50, 111;

    • Flower
      Garland Scripture,
      99;

    • Flower of the
      True Law Scripture,
      1, 22, 27, 29, 34,
      41, 42, 49, 50, 91, 97, 98, 101, 103,
      105, 111;

    • Flower of the True Law


      188

      Scripture (chapter on the medicine
      king), 65;

    • Flower of the True Law
      Scripture
      (Universal Gate chapter), 31;

    • Great Final Nirvāna Scripture, 50, 74,
      87, 95, 99, 103;

    • Infinite Life Scripture,
      104;

    • Larger Perfection of Wisdom
      Scripture,
      45, 47;

    • Sarvāstivāda Monastic
      Rules in Ten Recitations,
      63, 88,
      101, 106;

    • Shrīmālā-devī-simhanādasūtra,
      73, 101, 104;

    • Shūrangamasamādhi-Scripture,
      39;

    • Smaller Perfection
      of Wisdom Scripture,
      29, 34, 48;

    • Vimalakīrti-nirdesha-Scripture, 1, 29,
      34, 73, 78, 101, 124 n. 73

  • Scythians, 19

  • Sexes: relations between, 22

  • Sharīra (relics), 66, 81, 137 n. 133;

    • and
      bones, 65;

    • and Buddha's housing,
      145 n. 37

  • Social and political conditions, 64, 7374,
    102;

    • and barbarians, 3, 56, 70, 76,
      117 n. 12;

    • and Buddhism at time of
      entry into China, 2;

    • and plague, 32;

    • and political division of China, 3

  • Social class and Buddhism, 3

  • Social origins of monks and nuns, 7-8

  • Sources for the Lives of the Nuns: Chin
    nan-ching ssu chi
    (Notes on the convents
    and monasteries of the southern
    capital of the Chin dynasty), 109;

    • Fa
      yüan chu lin
      (Forest of pearls in the
      garden of the law), 107-109;

    • Kuang
      hung ming chi
      (Extended collection
      making known the illustrious), 109;

    • Ming hsiang chi (Records of mysterious
      omens), 108-109

  • Suicide by fire, 60, 80, 111, 146 n. 47;

    • ambivalence about, 11-12;

    • as ascetic
      ideal, 16, 52, 80-81;

    • as offering to the
      Buddha, 11;

    • and Taoism, 11

  • Taoism, 29-30, 113 n. 9;

    • and animals,
      125 n. 91;

    • and Buddhism, 3-4, 4-5,
      29-30;

    • and death, 12, 19, 31, 126 n.
      96, 130 n. 41;

    • and diet, 10, 51;

    • and
      practice of swallowing the breath, 29;

    • trance in, 134 n. 96;

    • and Way of Yellow
      Emperor and Lao-tzu, 22, 29, 71

  • Tathāgatha, 39, 129 n. 16

  • Teaching: effectiveness of nuns', 8;

    • first
      nun who specialized in expounding the
      meaning of scripture, 29;

    • Flower of the
      Law Scripture,
      97, 98, 103;

    • Great Final
      Nirvāna Scripture,
      103;

    • important, 16;

    • influence of, 19;

    • master, 26;

    • Mother of
      Monasticism Scripture,
      103;

    • of nun
      honored as spiritual teacher, 25;

    • saving
      people by, 23;

    • Shrīmālā Scripture, 73;

    • Smaller Perfection of Wisdom Scripture,
      29, 34;

    • Ten Stages Scripture, 103;

    • Vimalakīrti Scripture, 34, 73, 78

  • Ten Stages Scripture, 103

  • Tonsure, 18, 68

  • Trance. See Meditation

  • Vegetarianism: in China, 10;

    • in early
      Buddhism, 10;

    • and first precept of nonharm,
      10;

    • and Taoism, 10. See also
      Diet;

    • Feasts and fasts, vegetarian

  • Vestments. See Robes and dress

  • Vinaya. See Monastic rules

  • Visions, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 60, 75, 88,
    90, 105;

    • of near-death, 45

  • Vow: to burn body as worship offering,
    65;

    • to die rather than marry, 92;

    • fulfilled,
      41;

    • to leave household life, 49;

    • not to marry, 84, 105;

    • proof of, 39-40;

    • to be reborn in Tushita Heaven, 42;

    • to
      spread Buddhist religion, 104

  • Vows: of bodhisattva, 38, 75

  • Way of Yellow Emperor and Lao-tzu, 22,
    29, 71

  • Wu fen lü (Mahīshāsaka-vinaya), 112

  • Yellow Emperor and Lao-tzu, 22, 29, 71