Page 433 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

394 THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAOISM A-L

Since the eleventh century, this seventh-century philosophical scripture had
been known only in a short one-chapter version. The numerous handwritten
versions in the Dunhuang collections record the text almost in its entirety and
attest to its popularity during the Sui and Tang periods (Wu Chi-yu 1960).
Finally, some Dunhuang Taoist manuscripts have provided significant insights
into imperial sponsorship for the compilation of the Taoist Canon and into
the court's relation to Taoism. A singular example of imperial recognition of
a Taoist tradition is the fifth-century *Dongyuan shenzhou jing (Scripture of the
Divine Spells of the Cavernous Abyss), a copy of which was made in the year
664 for the sake of the crown prince as attested by two colophons found in
two manuscripts of the Pelliot collection (P. 3233 and P. 2444; Mollier 1990).
Numerous other examples could be given that demonstrate the invaluable
contribution of Dunhuang studies to research on the history of Taoism. Much
remains to be done, however, both in the investigation of this considerable mass
of material, and especially in the study of still-unpublished documents.

Christine MOLLIER
m Chen Guofu 1963, 204-28; Daojia wenhua yanjiu 1998; Gernet et a!. 1970-;
Giles L. 1957; Kanaoka Sh6k6, Ikeda On, and Fukui Fumimasa 1983; Kanaoka
Sh6k6 1983; Li Defan 1999; Ofuchi Ninji 1978-79; Ofuchi Ninji and Ishii Masako
1988, 285-301 (list of titles in Ofuchi Ninji 1978-79, vo!. 2); Shao Wenshi 1996;
Yoshioka Yoshitoyo 1967

Durenjing

Scripture on Salvation

The Duren jing (full title: Lingbao wuliang duren shangpin miaojing 5: W ~ ·rtllt A
L Ildl :trJ'ft.\'f( or Wondrous SCripture of the Upper Chapters of the Numinous Treasure
on Limitless Salvation) is the first scripture in the Ming Taoist Canon (CT 1).
The first chapter of this work formed part of the original *Lingbao scriptures,
codified in the fifth century, while the remaining sixty chapters represent an
expansion composed by *Shenxiao Taoists early in the twelfth century.
As part of the original Lingbao corpus of the early fifth century, the Duren
jing represents a Chinese response to Buddhist soteriology, particularly the idea
of the bodhisattva, who vows to effect the salvation of all beings within his
realm. As shown by its title, the Duren jing is concerned with du lit ("to ferry
across"), a verb which in Taoist texts refers both to the initiation of disciples