| 1. Research limits and academic significance:Currently, regarding the Tibetan Buddhist studies in the circle of Tibetology at home and abroad, studies on the history of the Nyingmapa School still remain weak when compared with those on the Gelukpa, Sakyapa, and Kagyupa schools. However, the unique religious ideas and doctrinal system and religious rituals and rites of the Nyingmapa School, not only have wide-ranging and profound support from within the society among religious followers in Tibetan areas, but have also rapidly spread within the nation and abroad since the middle of the 20 th Century. The Nyingmapa tradition has unceasingly attracted the deep interest of Buddhist followers and religious scholars. At the same time, more and more people are paying attention to the study of the history of the Nyingmapa School.The doctrinal system of the Nyingmapa School is comprised of three types of transmission, i.e. the distant transmission of scripture(ring brgyud bka’ ma), close transmission of treasury text(nye brgyud gter ma), and profound and pure vision transmission(zab mo dag snang). What this thesis mainly discusses is the scriptural transmission of the Zur Family which appeared at the time when the distant transmission of scripture had developed during the Second Diffusion of Buddhism.In the beginning of the Second Diffusion of Buddhism in the 11 th century, three Zur masters founded the transmission system of the distant transmission of scripture. Tibetan traditional historians held the viewpoint that the emergence of scriptural transmission of the Zur family designates the revival of the tantric Buddhism during the early Tibetan King’s era in the second diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet. In the other hand, the Tibetologist circle within China consistently views that the emergence of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family marks the beginning of the Nyingmapa School as a distinct religious tradition. Such historical appraisal fully displays the important role played by the scriptural transmission of the Zur Family in the history of the Nyingmapa School and of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole.As is known to all that the second diffusion of Buddhism was an era of decentralized Tibet and it was a historical era when there was little record of the history. Therefore, in the traditional historiographies, the records relating to the scriptural transmission of the Zur family seemed extremely limited. In particular, the description of relative religious sites and geographical location was rather unclear. There is also lack of surveys on the religious sites of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family and no precise location of the relative religious sites has been determined within the Tibetologist circle, therefore, to carry out survey of the relative religious sites of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family and to investigate historical figure of Zur is the value of this thesis. 2. Research method:Motivated by the lack of relevant records on the three Zur masters and their religious sites, the dearth of specific research and field work by current scholars, and relying on the guidance of Marxist viewpoints on history and religion, herein the author reviews the origin of scriptural transmission of the Zur Family during the time of the early Tibetan Kings and systematically surveys the whole process of the formation and development of the scriptural transmission of the Zur Family through a variety of historical records, and the extensive collection of oral history. Through a methodology of combining the textual research and field work, based on the little information found in historical records such as The Religious History of Gu bkra(gu bkra chos ’byung)①, extensively visiting the relevant villages and monasteries in various regions, using the research method of history, geography, and archeology, I have surveyed and determined the precise location of seven religious sites in the current administrative divisions, such as ’Ug pa lung Monastery dating back to the 11 th Century. At the same time, I have carried out investigations in depth and in greater detail on the local cultural and historical relics and on the current situation of religion and culture. I have also collected a great number of first hand oral information and pictures.As a student on the major of history, this thesis mainly focused on the historical figures and religious sites, and paid less attention to the religious viewpoints and theories. In describing the lives of religious figures, the author comprehensively referenced the relevant historical records. As for the special feature of historical studies, the thesis keeps the mythical color. Regarding the style of composition, this thesis not only followed the rules of composing thesis of Master’s degree, but also consulted the composing feature of traditional Tibetan historiographies.3. Relevant literature and research trend:Because the three Zur masters appeared very early, and the historical documents of the Nyingmapa School came out relatively later in time, the records relating to the three Zur masters seems extremely limited. The History of Gu bkra was written in 1873 and it is the earliest record and most detailed history of the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism that we can find in China today. In the colophon of The History of Gu bkra, is stated, "Earlier, I had seen a book entitled, The Religious History of g.Yag sde, which was said to have been written by Tingdzin Khyenrab Gyatso and which was the most detailed account of the history of the Nyingmapa School. Unfortunately, I could not acquire it while writing this thesis." ① From this, one knows that The Religious History of g.Yag sde appeared before The Religious History of Gu bkra.Since the Religious History of g.Yag sde was listed in the bibliography of The Religious History of Dudjom,① written by Dudjom Yeshe Dorje in 1962, one can assume that The Religious History of Yakde is probably still being circulated around the world today. However, accounts regarding the three Zur masters are limited, and that in The Religious History of Dudjom is highly similar to that of The Religious History of Gudra and moreover seems to be an abbreviated version of it. The majority of historical records of the Nyingmapa School, appearing after The Religious History of Dudjom, share a similar status. In summary, no matter it is other historiographies of the Nyingmapa School such as The Religious History of Zhe chen(Zhe chen chos ’byung)② and the Religious History of the Nyingmapa(r Nying ma chos ’byung),③ or it is Blue Annals(Deb ther sngon po),④ there is not so much differences in providing information of the Zur family. Therefore, as a course of the historical records of the three Zurs’ religious sites, this thesis mainly referenced the Religious History of Gu bkra. Hereby, I would like to express my gratitude to the author of this book. My major recourses also include Buddhism During the Tibetan Dynasty-A Study on the Early History of Nyingmapa and Tantric Transmission,① The Transmission of the Three Zurs of the Nyingmapa School,② A Brief Analysis of the Main Reasons of the Nyingmapa’s Being Active during the Medieval Era of Tibet,③ and The History of Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism.④In summary, during the duration of four-year study and research work, the author read a great number of historical literature and references. In the procedure of writing the thesis, although there was not so much that I could directly make citations from the references, but it has helps me greatly broaden my eye sight and obviously enhanced my ability of doing research work. At the same time, the author has paid close attention to the relevant research works, and has not found any papers and thesis regarding the geographical survey and research on current status of the scriptural transmission of the Zur families. This is my major motivation to carry out this research.4. Abstract of the content:The three Zur masters of the Nyingmapa School lived between 1002 A.D.(5th year of the reign of the Emperor Xianping of the Song Dynasty) and 1134 A.D.(4th year of the reign of the Emperor Shaoxing of the Song Dynasty) during the early years of the Second Diffusion of Tibetan Buddhism.At that time, the Great Zur Shā kya ’Bung gnas founded ’Ug pa lung, the first monastery of the Nyingmapa School, in today’s Shigatse Prefecture of the TAR and also initiated the unique scriptural transmission of the Zur Family. Moreover, for the first time, he set up the victorious banner of the Nyingmapa as a distinct religious school.During the middle and late periods of the Second Diffusion of Buddhism, the doctrinal centers of Nyingmapa were gradually moved to today’s Shannan Prefecture in the TAR, and to Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. At the same time, the religious sites dating back to the time of three Zur masters gradually faded from the historical scene.First, in order to relatively and clearly describe the relationship of the Nyingmapa School and the Buddhism during the early Tibetan kings, this thesis in greater detail traces back the doctrinal origin of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family of the Nyingmapa School. Secondly, in order to precisely determine the special position of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family in the development of Nyingmapa School and that of the Tibetan Buddhism as a whole, this thesis in greater detail analyses the procedure of the formation and development of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family and the continuation of the doctrine of the Zur family in the later generation. Furthermore, in order to display the ruins and traces of the history and culture of the formation of scriptural transmission of the Zur family, the thesis uses the field work of relevant religious sites as the starting point, step by step, the ruins of the religious sites during the formation phase of the scriptural transmission of the Zur family were rediscovered. At the same time, I have discovered many valuable historical relics. Therefore, I also became like a person who does not know how to deal with the over thousand-year history.To describe the deeds of the ancestors and descendants of the Zur family by a person with little knowledge is just like measuring the ocean with a wooden ladle or the depth of a lake with a stick and is far beyond of my ability. By rejoicing in the good deeds and merits of the sages, following in the footsteps of former scholars, and surveying the history of ancient sites and holy places, the author briefly discusses his own understanding and observations. |
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