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The purpose of this work is, on the one hand,to give an annotated English translation of the Chinese version of the bhiksunivibhanga of the Dharma-guptakavinaya, and on the other hand to study the life and the career of Buddhist nun as described in the vinaya literature. This vinaya laid the foundation of Chinese monastic life. As the Dharmaguptakavinaya came into being in symbiosis with other vinaya traditions, a comparison is made with these other traditions on important issues.

Given the fact that the Dharmaguptakavinaya is the most important vinaya in China and that it lays the foundation of the monastic life, the author has chosen to translate and to study the discipline for nuns of this vinaya. One should, however, always keep in mind that the Dharmaguptakavinaya came into being in symbiosis with other vinaya traditions, often only transmitted in Chinese.

In the Introduction, the place of the Dharmaguptaka tradition, the career of a Buddhist nun and the rules of discipline are discussed. The notes to the English translation provide relevant references to technical terms and to parallel passages from the discipline for monks as well as from other vinaya traditions.

The work is supplemented with indexes, glossaries and a concordance of the rules for nuns and monks of the Dharmaguptaka tradition.

The present work provides the first complete annotated translation into English of the chinese version of the bhiksunivibhanga of the Dharmaguptakavinaya. This vinaya laid the foundation of Chinese monastic life. As the Dharmaguptakavinaya came into being in symbiosis with other vinaya traditions, a comparison is made with these other traditions on important issues.

In the introduction, the place of the Dharmaguptaka tradition, the career of a Buddhist nun and the rules of discipline are discussed. The notes to the English translation provide relevant references to technical terms and to parallel passages from the discipline for monks as well as from other vinaya traditions.

The work is supplemented with indexes, glossaries and a concordance of the rules for nuns and monks of the Dharmaguptaka tradition.