Bhikkhunī Karma Sutra (比丘尼羯磨經)

About 比丘尼羯磨經

Liu Song · Source text translated by 求那跋摩

7,608 · about 25 min

The Bhikṣuṇī Karma Sūtra was translated into Chinese by the eminent Indian monk Guṇavarman during the Liu Song period. This scripture emerged during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, a formative stage in the development of Chinese Buddhist monastic discipline, and was specifically composed to standardize the karma procedures for the bhikṣuṇī saṅgha. It systematically expounds the protocols for bhikṣuṇī ordination, uposatha observance, repentance, and other monastic affairs, clearly delineating the corresponding ceremonial methods and disciplinary measures for infractions. As an integral component of the fundamental Vinaya corpus in Chinese Buddhism, this sūtra provides a comprehensive framework of behavioral norms and institutional guidelines for the bhikṣuṇī community. It holds foundational significance for the establishment and transmission of the bhikṣuṇī precept tradition in China and serves as a key text for studying the development of early Buddhist monastic regulations for nuns.