Translating Medicine Across Cultures: The Divergent Strategies of An Shigao and Dharmarakṣa in Introducing Indian Medical Concepts to China

The <i>Yogācārabhūmi</i>, compiled by Saṅgharakṣa, was first introduced to China by An Shigao’s abridged translation (T607, <i>Daodi jing</i> 道地經), later, in 284 CE, Dharmarakṣa produced a more comprehensive version (T606, <i>Xiuxing daodi jing</i> 修行道地經). Lacking extant Sanskrit or Pali parallels, the text is difficult to interpret literally, and the differences between T607 and T606 add to the analytical challenges. However, a substantial section in both translations describing omens of impending death in the sick exhibits systematic parallels with Indian Āyurvedic texts, such as the <i>Caraka-saṃhitā</i> and <i>Suśruta-saṃhitā</i>. These parallels help clarify the ambiguous passages through comparative analysis. This study explores the translation strategies of An Shigao and Dharmarakṣa in introducing Indian medical concepts to China. An Shigao adopted a localization strategy, replacing foreign terms with analogous Chinese concepts. His terminology, corroborated by usage in Eastern Han or earlier Chinese texts—particularly excavated manuscripts—supports claims in the <i>Chu sanzang ji ji</i> regarding his expertise in medicine and divination. By contrast, Dharmarakṣa’s <i>Xiuxing daodi jing</i> sought greater fidelity to the Indian source material, offering a more detailed and systematic presentation of Āyurvedic knowledge. However, Dharmarakṣa did not entirely abandon An Shigao’s localization approach. He adopted a balanced strategy that combined faithful representation with cultural adaptation, reflecting the broader capacity of his more diverse and sophisticated audience to engage with complex and extensive foreign knowledge.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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