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The only empress in Chinese history, Wu Zetian (武則天), used the Mahamegha Sutra, translated as the Dayun jing (大雲経) to usurp the throne. Using this sutra, she and her assistant monks proclaimed that she was the Buddha Maitreya and the ideal ruler reigning according to Dharma. The Dayun jing was thus copied and distributed throughout the empire. Moreover, hundreds of Dayun monasteries were established in every prefecture, and the monks were ordered to lecture on it. In this way, the Dayun jing played a crucial role in the rise and reign of Empress Wu.
Two Dunhuang documents, S.2658 and S.6502, are copies of a commentary on the Dayun jing, entitled the Dayun jing shenhuang shouji yishu (大雲経神皇授記義疏). This commentary is thought to have been copied along with the sutra and distributed throughout the empire. Regarding the Dayun jing referenced in the commentary, it has long been considered to be the Mahamegha Sutra translated by Dharmaksema (曇無讖). However, historical records indicate that the Dayun jing distributed at this time consists of four volumes, whereas Dharmaksema’s version comprises six volumes.
This paper first examines the passages from the sutra quoted in the commentary and compares them with Dharmaksema’s version, clarifying that the Dayun jing used for Wuzhou revolution was a shortened edition of the existing six volume version. Then, by examining the records of Dayun jing translations found in sutra catalogues, this paper also highlights the transition of the name of the translators from Zhu fonian（竺仏念） to Dharmaksema in different catalogues over time and discusses the possibility that the compilers of the sutra catalogue during the Wuzhou dynasty intentionally altered the name of the translator.
Research papers (academic journals)
