Colorful and Classic -- Biyu Jing (Hundred Parables Sutra) and Xianyu Jing (Sage and Fool Sutra)

Author: (India) ?āntideva and others translated and compiled by Yili
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The Bodhisattva's Hundred Parables (also known as the Hundred Parables Sutra), compiled by the Indian monk ?āntideva in the 5th century. The translator of this book was the monk Gunapīti, a disciple of ?āntideva who came to China during the Southern Qi Dynasty (497-502 AD). The Chinese translation was renamed the Hundred Parables Sutra and is abbreviated as the Bodhisattva's Hundred Parables. It is included in the Chinese Buddhist Canon. This scripture is a collection of parables used to convey moral teachings and belongs to the category of parables among the twelve divisions of the Buddhist scriptures. Each chapter consists of two parts: the parable () and the moral lesson (). The parable is a short allegory, while the moral lesson is the teaching revealed by the parable. These parables primarily depict humorous and absurd events, with sharp satire. The scripture begins with jokes before introducing Buddhist teachings, embedding Buddhist principles within the humor. It is both entertaining and profound, simple yet vivid, easy to understand, witty, and enlightening. It is not only a scripture but also a rare and excellent Buddhist literary work.
The Bodhisattva's Hundred Parables contains 69 stories, but due to space constraints, this book selects nine influential and highly readable stories. These stories are relatively complex, including various types of cause-and-effect tales (narrating the past lives of the Buddha and his followers), as well as numerous Jātaka stories (tales of the Buddha's previous lives) and the life story of the Buddha. A Jātaka story is one that recounts the deeds of the Buddha in his past lives. This book organizes the stories into chapters, each divided into three parts: the original text, the translation, and the commentary. The original text is presented in colloquial Chinese, allowing readers to appreciate the charm of the original while easily following the plot. Each chapter is accompanied by expert commentary, guiding readers in their study.