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Difference between revisions of "Atthakatha"

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'''[[Atthakatha]]''' ([[Pali]] for explanation, commentary)<ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:538.pali Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), pp. 24-25], entry for ''[[Attha]]'' defines ''{{IAST|aṭṭhakathā}}'' as "[[exposition]] of the [[sense]], explanation, commentary...."</ref> refers to Pali-language [[Theravada|Theravadin Buddhist]] commentaries to the [[Wikipedia:canonical|canonical]] [[Theravadin]] [[Tipitaka]]. These commentaries give the [[traditional]] interpretations of the [[scriptures]]. The major commentaries were based on earlier ones, now lost, in Old {{Wiki|Sinhalese}}, which were written down at the same [[time]] as the [[Canon]], in the last century BCE. Some material in the commentaries is found in [[Wikipedia:canonical|canonical]] texts of other [[schools of Buddhism]], suggesting an early common source.
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'''[[Atthakatha]]''' ([[Pali]] for explanation, commentary)<ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:538.pali Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), pp. 24-25], entry for ''[[Attha]]'' defines ''{{IAST|aṭṭhakathā}}'' as "[[exposition]] of the [[sense]], explanation, commentary...."</ref> refers to [[Pali]]-[[language]] [[Theravada|Theravadin Buddhist]] commentaries to the [[Wikipedia:canonical|canonical]] [[Theravadin]] [[Tipitaka]]. These commentaries give the [[traditional]] interpretations of the [[scriptures]]. The major commentaries were based on earlier ones, now lost, in Old {{Wiki|Sinhalese}}, which were written down at the same [[time]] as the [[Canon]], in the last century BCE. Some material in the commentaries is found in [[Wikipedia:canonical|canonical]] texts of other [[schools of Buddhism]], suggesting an early common source.
 
[[File:At1copy.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
 
[[File:At1copy.jpg|thumb|250px|]]
 
As with the [[Canon]] itself, the contents of collected editions of the [[Theravadin]] commentaries, compiled from the fourth century CE onwards, vary between editions. The minimal collection, found in the [[Thai]] edition (1992) includes the following (Skilling 2002).
 
As with the [[Canon]] itself, the contents of collected editions of the [[Theravadin]] commentaries, compiled from the fourth century CE onwards, vary between editions. The minimal collection, found in the [[Thai]] edition (1992) includes the following (Skilling 2002).
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* Commentaries by [[Dhammapala]] on seven [[books]] of the [[Khuddaka Nikaya]].
 
* Commentaries by [[Dhammapala]] on seven [[books]] of the [[Khuddaka Nikaya]].
 
* Four commentaries by various authors on four other [[books]] of the [[Khuddaka Nikaya]].
 
* Four commentaries by various authors on four other [[books]] of the [[Khuddaka Nikaya]].
In addition, the following are included in one or both of the other two editions: the [[Burmese]] Chatthasangayana edition (a list of contents can be found in Thein Han 1981) and the {{Wiki|Sinhalese}} Simon Hewavitarne Bequest edition.
+
In addition, the following are included in one or both of the other two editions: the [[Burmese]] [[Chatthasangayana]] edition (a list of contents can be found in Thein Han 1981) and the {{Wiki|Sinhalese}} Simon Hewavitarne Bequest edition.
 
* [[Buddhaghosa's]] [[Visuddhimagga]], a systematic presentation of the [[traditional teaching]]; the commentaries on the first [[four nikayas]] refer to this for the material it details. In both {{Wiki|Sinhalese}} ([[Mori]] ''et al.'' 1994) and [[Burmese]]
 
* [[Buddhaghosa's]] [[Visuddhimagga]], a systematic presentation of the [[traditional teaching]]; the commentaries on the first [[four nikayas]] refer to this for the material it details. In both {{Wiki|Sinhalese}} ([[Mori]] ''et al.'' 1994) and [[Burmese]]
 
* The [[Patimokkha]] (Pruitt & Norman 2001, page xxxvi) and its commentary [[Kankhavitarani]], ascribed to [[Buddhaghosa]]
 
* The [[Patimokkha]] (Pruitt & Norman 2001, page xxxvi) and its commentary [[Kankhavitarani]], ascribed to [[Buddhaghosa]]

Latest revision as of 07:50, 25 August 2014

Atthakatha (Pali for explanation, commentary)[1] refers to Pali-language Theravadin Buddhist commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures. The major commentaries were based on earlier ones, now lost, in Old Sinhalese, which were written down at the same time as the Canon, in the last century BCE. Some material in the commentaries is found in canonical texts of other schools of Buddhism, suggesting an early common source.

At1copy.jpg

As with the Canon itself, the contents of collected editions of the Theravadin commentaries, compiled from the fourth century CE onwards, vary between editions. The minimal collection, found in the Thai edition (1992) includes the following (Skilling 2002).

In addition, the following are included in one or both of the other two editions: the Burmese Chatthasangayana edition (a list of contents can be found in Thein Han 1981) and the Sinhalese Simon Hewavitarne Bequest edition.

Buddhaghosa

Below is a listing of fourth- or fifth-century CE commentator Buddhaghosa's fourteen alleged commentaries (Pāli: atthakatha) on the Pāli Tipitaka (Norman 1983).

Pali Tipitaka Commentary
from the
Vinaya Pitaka
Vinaya (general) Samantapasadika
Patimokkha Kankhavitarani
from the
Sutta Pitaka
Digha Nikaya Sumangalavilasini
Majjhima Nikaya Papancasudani
Samyutta Nikaya Saratthappakasini
Anguttara Nikaya Manorathapurani
from the
Khuddaka
Nikaya
Khuddakapatha Paramatthajotika (I)
Dhammapada Dhammapada-atthakatha
Sutta Nipata Paramatthajotika (II),[2]
Suttanipata-atthakatha
Jataka Jatakatthavannana,
or Jataka-atthakatha
from the
Abhidhamma
Pitaka
Dhammasangani Atthasalini
Vibhanga Sammohavinodani
Dhatukatha Pancappakaranatthakatha
Puggalapannatti
Kathavatthu
Yamaka
Patthana

Only the Visuddhimagga and the commentaries on the first four nikayas are accepted by a consensus of scholars as Buddhaghosa's.[3]

Dhammapala

Boo30tbb.jpg

The commentator Dhammapala's date is uncertain. He wrote after Buddhaghosa, and probably no later than the tenth century. His Khuddaka Nikaya commentaries are Paramatthadipani comprising

Other Khuddaka Nikaya commentaries

Other Khuddaka Nikaya commentaries are

Three books are included in some editions of the Khuddaka Nikaya: Nettipakarana, Petakopadesa and Milindapañha. Of these only the Nettipakarana has a commentary in any standard edition.

Translations

Footnotes

  1. Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), pp. 24-25, entry for Attha defines aṭṭhakathā as "exposition of the sense, explanation, commentary...."
  2. In fact this commentary did not originally have this title, but it has become traditionally known by it. Hinüber (1996/2000), p. 129 sec. 255, writes:
    Neither the author nor even a title is mentioned in Pj [Paramattha-jotika] II .... Thus, originally Pj II was anonymous, and moreover like Dhp-a [Dhammapada-atthakatha] and Ja [Jataka-atthavannana] was without an individual title: Pj might have been chosen at a later date because large parts overlapped with Pj I. [That is, because much of the Khuddakapatha is taken from the Sutta Nipata]. This connected this commentary to Pj I....
    On the whole, however, Pj I and Pj II are so different that it is difficult to imagine a common author.
  3. For instance, regarding the Khuddha Nikaya commentaries, Hinüber (1996/2000), pp. 130–1, sect. 259, 260, writes:
    Neither Pj [Paramattha-jotika] I nor Pj II can be dated, not even in relation to each other, except that both presuppose Buddhaghosa. In spite of the 'Buddhaghosa colophon' added to both commentaries ... no immediate relation to Buddhaghosa can be recognized.... Both Ja [Jataka-atthavannana] and Dhp-a [Dhammapada-atthakatha] are traditionally ascribed to Buddhaghosa, an assumption which has been rightly questioned by modern research....
  4. Available on-line from "Access to Insight" (1994) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/wheel377.html.

Source

Wikipedia:Atthakatha