Hi Ven Pannasikhara and other Chinese reader friends,
While reading the other thread on "Hinayana" (see: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2742), I have a question which I hope you would help to answer:
- What is the Chinese translation of the term "Theravada" in the present context (ie. popularly used in our present time)?
a) 原 始 (yuan2 shi3): Original Buddhism
b) 南 宗 (nan2 zong1): Southern School
c) 南 傳 (nan2 chuan2): Southern Transmission
d) 小 乘 (xiao3 cheng2): Small Vehicle
e) any other terms .... ?
Thanks
BDS
Chinese term for Theravada?
Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
Perhaps I should add an old term here:BudSas wrote:Hi Ven Pannasikhara and other Chinese reader friends,
While reading the other thread on "Hinayana" (see: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2742), I have a question which I hope you would help to answer:
- What is the Chinese translation of the term "Theravada" in the present context (ie. popularly used in our present time)?
a) 原 始 (yuan2 shi3): Original Buddhism
b) 南 宗 (nan2 zong1): Southern School
c) 南 傳 (nan2 chuan2): Southern Transmission
d) 小 乘 (xiao3 cheng2): Small Vehicle
e) any other terms .... ?
f) 上坐部 (shang4 zuo4 bu4): School of the Elders.
BDS
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Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
onlythe last one is a translation of Theravada
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
I agree. Although the term "School of the Elders" for Theravada is literally correct, I believe the term "Southern School" or "Southern Transmission" are more commonly used.Manapa wrote:onlythe last one is a translation of Theravada
BDS
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Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
Depends who you ask. Hopefully somebody who knows what is what!
Probably 南傳 which is the more common term. Especially for the living tradition.
上座部 (not 上坐部) includes all the Sthavira / Thera groups, including Sarvastivada.
It thus tends to have more of an historical sense, viz the 大眾部, for instance.
Probably 南傳 which is the more common term. Especially for the living tradition.
上座部 (not 上坐部) includes all the Sthavira / Thera groups, including Sarvastivada.
It thus tends to have more of an historical sense, viz the 大眾部, for instance.
My recently moved Blog, containing some of my writings on the Buddha Dhamma, as well as a number of translations from classical Buddhist texts and modern authors, liturgy, etc.: Huifeng's Prajnacara Blog.
Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
*
Thanks. Much appreciated.
BDS
Thanks. Much appreciated.
BDS
Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
In the Chinese Dharma talks I've heard, the term '小 乘' is used most often.
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Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
But are they referring to Theravada, or to Hinayana as per general Mahayana usage?shjohnk wrote:In the Chinese Dharma talks I've heard, the term '小 乘' is used most often.
There is definitely a difference, from what I see.
My recently moved Blog, containing some of my writings on the Buddha Dhamma, as well as a number of translations from classical Buddhist texts and modern authors, liturgy, etc.: Huifeng's Prajnacara Blog.
Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
Thanks for the correction. I'd also like to know the Chinese term for "Thera": 上 座 or 長 老 (zhang3 lao3), or both?Paññāsikhara wrote:
上座部 (not 上坐部) includes all the Sthavira / Thera groups, including Sarvastivada.
It thus tends to have more of an historical sense, viz the 大眾部, for instance.
BDS
Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
Both 小乘 and 南传 are equally common translations of Theravada in Chinese. Some people take offense to the use of "smaller" in 小乘, so will choose to use 南传 instead.
Personally, I use 小乘 in situations when talking informally about the religion and 南传 when talking formally. I don't know why I do it, though...perhaps coz the word 南传 sounds more proper?
Personally, I use 小乘 in situations when talking informally about the religion and 南传 when talking formally. I don't know why I do it, though...perhaps coz the word 南传 sounds more proper?
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Re: Chinese term for Theravada?
If one is just talking about "Thera so-and-so", then the term to use is 長老 in a very Buddhist way, but slightly more colloquial is just something like 老法師 老和尚 or the like. It is, after all, just "Elder". Even to the point of just 老人!! Of course, in Chinese, this is still kind of an honorific.BudSas wrote:Thanks for the correction. I'd also like to know the Chinese term for "Thera": 上 座 or 長 老 (zhang3 lao3), or both?Paññāsikhara wrote:
上座部 (not 上坐部) includes all the Sthavira / Thera groups, including Sarvastivada.
It thus tends to have more of an historical sense, viz the 大眾部, for instance.
BDS
My recently moved Blog, containing some of my writings on the Buddha Dhamma, as well as a number of translations from classical Buddhist texts and modern authors, liturgy, etc.: Huifeng's Prajnacara Blog.