The Catalogue of CBETA Taisho Tripitaka

1. Forward

    In 730 AD, during China’s Tang Dynasty, in the Tripatika Catalogue of the Catalogue of Buddhist Teachings in the Kaiyuan Reign《開元釋教錄》, the monk Zhisheng (智昇) detailed principles for cataloguing Chinese translations of the Tripatika: these translations were classified as the Bodhisattva Tripitaka Catalogue (including Bodhisattva Sutras, Vinayas, and Abhidharmas) and the Buddhist disciples'sTripitaka Catalogue (including Sutras, Vinayas, and Abhidharmas of the disciples.) The Mahayana Sutras were arranged in five categories: Bo Ruo (般若, Prajñā), BaoJi (寶積), DaJi (大集), HuaYan (華嚴), and Nie Pan (涅槃, Nirvāṇa ). Mahayana sastras were classified as Commentaries of the Sutra(釋經論) andtheses of Sutra (集義論). [1] This classification served as the criterion for later copies and printings, [2] contributing vastly to the structuring of the Chinese language Tripatika. [3]

    From 1924 to 1934, TakakusuJunjiro and others established the Tokyo Taisho Tripatika Publication Association (later known as the DaizoShuppansha), which put out the Taisho Tripitaka. The order and numbering of the works retained some of the traditional classification principles, but also relied on historical trends in the development of the structure of Buddhist works.

    First came the Indian works (which had already been translated into Chinese) in Volumes 1 through 32, in the order of Sutras (Vols. 1-21), Vinaya (Vols. 22-24), and Abhidharmas (Vols. 25-32). This was followed by the Chinese writings (Vols.33-48): commentaries on Sutras (Vols. 33-39), commentaries on Vinaya (Vols. 40a), and commentaries on Abhidharmas (Vols. 40-44a), the works of different Schools of Chinese Buddhism (Vols. 44b-48). Volumes 49-52 are historical information, including biographies. Volumes 53-54 are encyclopedic. Volume 55 is the Catalogues. Japanese writings occupy Volumes 56– 84. The final Volume, 85, comprises two sections, the lost writings and apocrypha found at Dunhuang in western China. Aside from the Japanese writings, there are 26 sections:

    This should call our attention to the relations between each category: the continuity between Sutras and their commentaries, the continuity between Vinaya and their commentaries , the continuity between Abhidharmas and their commentaries. We should note that various Chinese Buddhist sects developed along the lines of these Sutras, Vinayas, and Abhidharmas. In addition, there are the manuscripts in the lost writings and apocrypha found at Dunhuang.

    The CBETA (Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association) in Taiwan is working to achieve the goals of how to use capabilities digital documents to place all related data in the same category for retrieval and researching in the new information age.

    Therefore, the Catalogue of the 2001 CBETA Tripitaka follows the records of different translations from the similar text in Taisho Tripitaka Catalogue, taking into account the contributions from the research on Tripitaka Catalogue.[4] The entire 26 sections of the Taisho Tripitaka ( 01 Ahan to 26 Apocrypha) are rearranged into twenty groups in a tree structure, to compose the Catalogue of CBETA Taisho Tripitaka (the CBETA TC).

　The purpose of the CBETA TC is to use the capabilities of digital documents to rearrange the Taisho Tripitaka into a tree structure to facilitate systematic, in-depth study of the Canon; to exhibit the relations between Buddhist works of similar content and nature, in order to improve the efficiency of retrieval.

2.The Tree Structure of the CBETA TC

    In 2000, CBETA issued 32 volumes of Sutras. Following the lead of the Taisho Tripitaka, the work began with Ahan, in the order of Sutras, Vinayas, Abhidharmas. However, the tree structure connecting various works was not taken into account. For example, opening the work to Ahan immediately displays all the names of all 151 Sutras in this category (from 0001長阿含經to 0151佛說阿含正行經), there is no way of knowing the structural relations between the works, or of knowing which commentaries or related texts refer to these Sutras.

    In 2001, the CBETA has extended the original Tiasho "section" of Ahan (Āgama, 「阿含部」) to become the Ahan "group" (「阿含部類」), so that when we open this section of the Sutras, not all Ahan Sutra titles are displayed at once; related families of different levels appear.

　For example, if we open the Ahan "group" of the CBETATC, the first level we see is arranged in eight "families" : 0001-25   Chang Ahanjing (Dīrghāgama, 長阿含經類)、0026-94 ZhongAhanjing (Madhyamāgama, 中阿含經類)、0095-98 Ｇuang Yi Fa Men Jing et cetera (廣義法門經等)、0099-124 ZaAhanJing (Saṃyuktāgama, 雜阿含經類)、0125-48 Zeng Yi AhanJing   (Ekōttarikāgama,增壹阿含經類)、0149-51 the Sutra of Ānanda's schoolmate et cetera (阿難同學經等)、1505-08 Theses of Ahan (阿含經論釋)、1693-94 Commentaries of Ahan(阿含經疏等).

    Then if we open 0001-25 the family of Chang Ahanjing (長阿含經類), we can see the two parts of the second level: 0001Chang Ahanjing(長阿含經, 22 volumes), and 0002-0025 the fascicle of Chang Ahanjing(長阿含經單本). In this way, we can use the tree structure arrangement to delve systematically into the Canon, rather than leap blindly into this immense collection. This helps the user understand the structure of the Canon, and facilitates synthesis.

3. The lated Structure of the CBETA TC

　The reason I go into the tree structure is to clarify how different levels of relations between Buddhist works may be grasped in an integrated, systematic manner. In order to upgrade the goal of learning from acquiring data to information, and then knowledge, the related structure of the CBETATC is such an important consideration that it should not stay at the level of a database: we hope for knowledge from it.  For the human brain to acquire knowledge implies the system and relation of data and information.

    Requirements and viewpoints change with the times, producing different Catalogue of the Canon. We need to take the vantage point of the electronic age or the information age to produce an Tripatika Catalogue appropriate for the age we live in. Individual users may use their own requirements to adjust their related catalogues to meet their needs. In general, we may consider directions for two categories of related Catalogues. The first direction is to give priority to "a whole set" with no Repetitions (Catalogue A), and the second is to give priority to "a group" and to allow Repetitions in different place (Catalogue B).

3.1. CBETA TC (A)：to give priority to "a whole set" with no Repetitions

    We have rearranged the original 26 sections (部)of the Taisho Tripitaka into 20 groups (部類). The commentaries on the Sutras, Vinayas and Abhidharmas (including the Dunhuang documents, the lost writings) have been included in the related works. The same with the works of different Schools of Chinese Buddhism, which are placed with related Sutras, Vinayas and Abhidharmas. The Pure Land and Chan schools which developed in China do not associate easily with any particular Sutras , Vinayas and Abhidharmas , so they are put in an independent group. After that come historical and biographical material (T49-52) and encyclopedic documents (T53-55, 85). At last is the apocrypha found at Dunhuang.

    Some categories were named in accordance with the original classification in the Taisho Tripitaka, remain the name of "section" (部, Bu),  such as the Ben Yuan Bu (Jātaka, 本緣部). Categories not found in the Taisho Tripitaka are listed as "familiy " (類, Lei), such as the Chan Zong Lei(禪宗類). Cases where original Taisho Tripitaka categories are integrated with related material are listed as "group" (部類, Bu Lei), such as the A Han Bu Lei (阿含部類). The names of these classes are:

01 阿含部類(A Han Bu Lei)　T01-02,25,33	02 本緣部(Ben Yuan Bu)　T03-04
03 般若部類(Bo Ruo Bu Lei)　T05-08,25,33,40,85	04 法華部類(FaHua Bu Lei)　T09a,26a,46,85
05 華嚴部類(HuaYan Bu Lei)　T09b-10,26a,35-36,45,85	06 寶積部類(BaoJi Bu Lei)　T11-12a,26a,37,85
07 涅槃部類(Nie Pan Bu Lei)　T12b,26a,37-38,40b,85	08 大集部類(Daji Bu Lei)　T13,26a
09 經集部類(JingJi Bu Lei)　T14-17,26a,38-39,85	10 密教部類(Mi Jiao Bu Lei)　T18-21,39,46
11 律部類(Lv Bu Lei)　T22-24,40a,45,85	12 毗曇部類(Pi Tan Bu Lei)　T26b-29,41,85
13 中觀部類(Zhong Guan Bu Lei)　T30a,42,45,85	14 瑜伽部類(Yu Qie Bu Lei)　T30b-32,42-44,85
15 論集部類(LunJi Bu Lei)　T32,44,85	16 淨土宗類(JingTuZong Lei)　T26a,37,40b,47,85
17 禪宗類(Chan Zong Lei)　T47-48,85	18 史傳部(Shi Zhuan Bu Lei)　T49-52
19 事彙部類(Shi Hui Bu Lei)　T53-55,85	20 疑似部(Yi Si Bu)　T85

    For example, in the group of Ahan Bu Lei (阿含部類, Āgama group), in addition to the original Ahan section (T01-02), the theses of Ahan (T25) and commentaries of Ahan (T33) are included here. The group of Prajñā Bu Lei (般若部類) includes not only the original Prajñā section (T05-08), but also Indian Commentaries of Prajñā(般若釋經論, T25), Chinese Commentaries of Prajñā (般若經論疏 T33,40), and the Dunhuang documents (敦煌文獻, T85). Similar works are linked for greater efficiency in word and phrase searches. Let us now examine some examples.

Example 1

A Han Bu Lei  (阿含部類, Āgama group)：       n0001~n0151(T01~T02)       n1505~n1508(T25)       n1693~n1694(T33)

Example 2

Bo Ruo Bu Lei (般若部類, Prajñā group):       n0220~n0261(T05~T08)       n1509~n1518(T25)       n1695~n1714(T33)       n1816~n1817(T40)       n2732~n2747(T85)

Example 3

Lv Bu Lei  (律部類, Vinaya group):       n1421~n1504(T22~T24)       n1804~n1815(T40)       n1892~n1910(T45)       n2784~n2798(T85)

Example 4

Yu Qie Bu Lei  (瑜伽部類, Yogācāra group) 　       n1579~n1627(T30~T31)       n1828~n1838(T42~T43)       n1851(T44)       n1861~n1865(T45)       n2801~n2812(T85)       n2823(T85)

Example 5

Shi Zhuan Bu Lei  (史傳部, Historical information group):       n2027~n2020(T49~T52)

3.2. CBETA TC (B)：to give priority to "a group" and to allow Repetitions in different place

    The second direction centers on considerations concerning one certain "group" (部類) or "family" (類), so some repetition is permissible. For example, in the group of Pure Land school, the Amitabha Pure Land Sutras of the BaoJi Bu Lei(寶積部) may be put with the works of Pure Land school, so as to the pratyutpanna-buddha-saṃmukhāvasthita-samādhi-sūtras (般舟三昧經典) of the Daji Bu Lei (大集部類).  While the BaoJi Bu Lei(寶積部) retains these Amitabha Pure Land Sutras, and does the Daji Bu Lei (大集部類) for the pratyutpanna-buddha-saṃmukhāvasthita-samādhi-sūtras (般舟三昧經典) . A further example: the lost writings found at Dunhuang  may appear with related Sutras, Vinayas and Abhidharmas, but in light of the needs of specialists in Dunhuang manuscripts, the special category in Volume 85, Dunhuang manuscripts, is preserved. Therefore, we can create a kind of catalogue which give priority to "a group" and to allow Repetitions in different place as the following way:

01 阿含部類(A Han Bu Lei)　T01-02,25,33	02 本緣部(Ben Yuan Bu)　T03-04
03 般若部類(Bo Ruo Bu Lei)　T05-08,25, 33,40,85	04 法華部類(FaHua Bu Lei)　T09a,26a,46,85
05 華嚴部類(HuaYan Bu Lei)　T09b-10,26a,35-36,45,85	06 寶積部類(BaoJi Bu Lei)　T11-12a,26a,37,85
07 涅槃部類(Nie Pan Bu Lei)　T12b,26a,37-38,40b,85	08 大集部類(Daji Bu Lei)　T13,26a
09 經集部類(JingJi Bu Lei) 　T14-17,26a,38-39,85	10 密教部類(Mi Jiao Bu Lei)　T18-21,39,46
11 律部類(Lv Bu Lei)　T22-24,40a,45,85	12 毗曇部類(Pi Tan Bu Lei)　T26b-29,41,85
13 中觀部類(Zhong Guan Bu Lei)　T30a,42,45,85	14 瑜伽部類(Yu Qie Bu Lei)　T30b-32,42-44,85
15 論集部類(LunJi Bu Lei)　T32,44,85	16 淨土宗類(JingTuZong  Lei) 　T11-12,26a,37,40b,47,85
17 禪宗類(Chan Zong Lei)　T47-48,85	18 史傳部(Shi Zhuan Bu Lei)　T49-52
19 事彙部類(Shi Hui Bu Lei)　T53-55,85	20 敦煌寫本類(the manuscripts found at Dunhuang)　T85

4. A comparison of retrieval results using catalogues of different structures

    Finally, an analysis of comparison of retrieval results using catalogues of different structures is listed below.