Bodhgayā (बोधगया Bihār). Chinese inscription of Huaiwen dated in the second year of 明道 Míngdào (CE 1033) of the Song emperor 真宗 Zhēnzōng. Edition here that of Chavannes (1896), see Concordance for bibliographic data. Working edition (02/2021).
[top portion]:
1. 大宋皇帝
2. 皇太后為
3. 太宗皇帝
4. 建塔壹座
[main text: 1.] 大宋
[2.] 聖文睿武仁明孝德皇帝.
[3.] 應元宗德仁壽慈聖皇太后.謹遣僧懷問.詣摩伽陀
[4.] 國奉為資薦
[5.] 太宗至仁應道神功聖德文武睿烈大明廣孝皇帝.
[6.] 於金剛座側.建塔一座.
[7.] 太宗皇帝伏願.高步 天宮.親承
[8.] 佛記書證. 真仙之位常居.
[9.] 釋梵之尊誕錫. 威靈永隆
[10.] 基業時明道二年.歲次癸酉.正月十九日記. 丙 日予
| Metadata | |
|---|---|
| Inscription ID | INCH0004 |
| Title | Bodhgaya Chinese inscription of Huaiwen dated in the second year of mingdao of the Song emperor Zhenzong |
| Alternative titles | Bodhgayā (बोधगया Bihār). Stele with a Chinese inscription |
| Parent Object | OBCH0004 |
| Related Inscriptions | |
| Responsibility | |
| Author | Émmanuel-Édouard Chavannes |
| Print edition recorded by | Michael WILLIS |
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| Edition improved by | |
| Authority for | |
| Metadata recorded by | Michael WILLIS |
| Authority for metadata | |
| Metadata improved by | Serena Biondo |
| Authoriy for improved | |
| Language | 漢語 |
| Reigning monarch | 仁宗 Rénzōng (1022-63) |
| Commissioner | Huaiwen |
| Topic | Registers the erection of the shrine (塔 i.e. this stele) near the vajrāsana in honour of the Buddha for the spiritual benefit of the deceased emperor 真宗 Zhēnzōng and the protection of the Song Dynasty. |
| Date: | |
| Min | 1032 |
| Max | 1033 |
| Comment | The translation of H. A. Giles is given by A. Cunningham in Mahabodhi, p. 72 (Chinese inscription no. 4), for which http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.804295. As pointed out by Giles in his commentary, the term Taizong belongs to the titles bestowed on emperors after their decease and so provides no evidence about the identity of the ruler. Near the end of the record, however, a date in the second year of mingdao is given (明道 Míngdào), a phrase used to designate the posthumous years 1032-1033 of the Song emperor 真宗 Zhēnzōng. The designation being in use for two years, and the record belonging to the second year, shows that the inscription belongs to 1033. Zhēnzōng died 24 March 1022 and the throne occupied by 仁宗 Rénzōng (1022-63). The inscription documents the building of a shrine by a monk named Huaiwen "beside the 金剛座 or vajra seat, i.e. vajrāsana." Giles added "bodhimaṇḍa" by way of explanation but that is not testified by the inscription. |
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| Description | Layout not recorded |
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| Description | Layout not recorded |
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| Bibliography | |
| References | Cunningham, Mahābodhi (1892): 72-3; Émmanuel-Édouard Chavannes, "Les inscriptions Chinoises de Bodh-Gayâ, " Revue de l'histoire des religions 34 (1896): 1-58 . |
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