『금강경』 제27 「무단무멸분]」 번역의 문제

초록

There are six different versions of the Chinese translation of the Diamond Sutra (Skt. Vajracchedikāprajñāpāramitāsūtra) that remain today. The translations of Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什) and Xuanzang (⽞奘) differ in terms of their terminology and syntax, although the meanings are not significantly different. However, some parts of the two translations of the 27th chapter 「無斷無滅 分」 contrast. making them difficult to comprehend. Kumārajīva translates, “If you think, ‘the Tathāgata has not obtained anuttarāsamyaksaṃbodhi because he possessed the marks,’” you should not think like this. On the other hand, Xuanzang translates, “What do you think, has the Tathāgata obtained anuttarāsamyaksaṃbodhi through his possession of all the marks?” Compared to other Chinese translations, no one interprets this phrase as having a negative meaning of ‘不’. The Sanskrit text also conforms the translation of Xuanzang rather than the one Kumārajīva. If so, why did Kumārajīva translate differently? It seems that the translation of Kumārajīva intended to suggest that the destruction of all ideas including not only the denial of the eternalistic view but also the nihilistic view. Breaking down the concepts of the Tathāgata’s 32 marks is a crucial theme that consistently appears throughout this sūtra. However, we must be careful of denying that there is no such merit or fruition. Therefore, the translation of Kumārajīva for the 27th chapter should not be simply considered as a mistranslation. It is neither thought that the word ‘不’ was entered inaccurately. Instead, it could be argued that it reveals Kumārajīva’s intention to make teaching more transparent, emphasizing that even the thoughts of denial should be overcome.

키워드