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The Dunhuang manuscript P.3129 is the Volume two of Zhu Za Zhai Wen (《諸雜齋文》, literally Anthology of Buddhist Prayers for Memorial Services), an anthology of Buddhist liturgical texts authored by Great Master Guangdao. This volume comprises thirty-eight ceremonial texts, each composed for historically attested assemblies and reflecting the events and practices of their time.
This article begins by examining the Buddhist official title held by the author—“Deputy Registrar of Monks of the Right Street of the Capital” (京右街副僧錄)—with attention to its historical establishment and administrative responsibilities. It demonstrates that the original text of Zhu Za Zhai Wen must have been composed after the fourth year of the Qianning reign (897) under Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, and argues that the compilation of ceremonial texts by a Deputy Registrar of Monks was consistent with the duties associated with this position.
Next, by analyzing the second and fourteenth pieces in this volume concerning offerings at the Famen Temple, the article identifies the military disturbances mentioned in the texts as the “Battle of Fengxiang” between Zhu Quanzhong (朱全忠) and Li Maozhen (李茂貞). This indicates that the volume was written after the second year of the Tianfu reign (902). Since the volume circumvents the use of Tang imperial names subject to naming taboos, it is likely to have been written before the fourth year of the Tianyou reign (907), the end of the Tang dynasty. Therefore, the time when Great Master Guangdao composed Zhu Za Zhai Wen can be inferred to be between the second year of Tianfu and the fourth year of Tianyou.
Finally, the article investigates the location of Famen Temple as represented in other Dunhuang manuscripts. While previous scholarship has generally identified it as a local, non-governmental private temple in Dunhuang, this study—based on manuscript S.3565-2, Petition by Cao Yuanzhong and the Lady of Xunyang Commandery for Offering Items—identifies the Famen Temple mentioned in these texts as the one located in Fufeng, renowned for enshrining the True Relic of the Buddha.
Research papers (academic journals)
