Etymology of the Character 佛 and Reception of Buddhism in China

Introduction. The etymology of the Chinese character 佛 (fó) shows that not only phonetics but also morphology of the character proper, as well as its interpretation in ancient Chinese texts, serve important factors of its use to translate the concept of ‘Buddha’ from Sanskrit Indian sutras. Goals. Etymological analysis of the hieroglyph 佛 with identification of early meanings based on citations from classical philosophical writings will reveal reasons for the primary use of the character 佛 in translations, in contrast to other assonant lexemes (e.g., 浮). Insights into historical and cultural backgrounds, peculiarities of the dissemination of Buddha’s teachings and beginnings of Chinese translation studies prove instrumental in emphasizing the influence of these processes on subsequent development of the new meaning. Materials. The study analyzes Chinese etymological and explanatory dictionaries, language databases and Chinese historical texts, as well as materials presented in works of linguists and historians. Results. The sign 佛 had been used in Taoist and Confucian literature long before the arrival of Buddhism in China. Its etymological and semantic analyses, interpretations of main meanings discovered in philosophical texts make it possible to show origins of the new meaning of the hieroglyph 佛 ‘Buddha’ and its use in translations. The history of development of the pictophonetic 佛 involves a cognitive aspect of linguoregional studies and reflects the complex process of Buddhist teachings adaptation in China, as well as the formation of Chinese translation studies in the context of interaction between India, China and domains of Tokharistan (Xiyu states) in the earliest centuries AD.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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