Examining the Names of the Eight Bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra in the Guanding Version of the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra

By examining the variants in the Dunhuang manuscripts and carving versions of the Guanding version of the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra (Guanding Bachuguozui Shengsidedu Jing, 灌頂拔除過罪生死得度經, Chapter 12 of Sutra on Abhiṣeka (Guanding Jing 灌頂經), we can categorize it into five different editions based on the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra: (1) without the names of the eight bodhisattvas and the mantra, (2) with the names from the earlier translation, but without the mantra, (3) with the names from the later translation, but without the mantra, (4) with the names from the earlier translation and with the mantra, and (5) with the names from the later translation and with the mantra. These editions reflect the diachronic evolution of the Guanding version of the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Sutra. The names of the eight bodhisattvas in the earlier translation first appeared in The Eight Lucky Mystical Mantra Sutra (Bajixiang Shenzhou Jing, 八吉祥神咒經), translated by Zhiqian (支謙, dates unknown) during the Three Kingdoms period. These bodhisattvas were atypical, including laymen and heavenly kings, rather than conventional enlightened figures. In contrast, the names from the later translation include well-known figures such as Avalokitesvara and Maitreya, selected by the compilers of the Guanding version. Notably, there is no direct connection between the earlier and later translations of the eight bodhisattvas’ names. Regarding the Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha Mantra, the Guanding version is the earliest known version, which has undergone three expansions. The names of the Buddha, including tathāgatāya (多他伽多耶), bhagavate (薄伽筏帝), arhate (阿囉𠿒帝), and saṃyaksaṃbuddhāya (三藐三勃陀也), were subsequently added to the final edition by Yijing (義浄, 635–713).