ABSTRACT
The complete translation of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra which we now have in the Tripitaka was the work of Xuan Zang. The full-size text, comprising sixteen parts, comes to nearly six million Chinese characters. The task of translating the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra began on the first day of the New Year in the fifth year of the Xianqing reign. The sermons that made up this sutra were given by the Buddha in four different places: Grdhrakuta, the Jetavana park near Sravasti, the Heavenly Palace of the Paranirmitavasavartins, and the Venuvana Vihara in the city of Rajagrha. According to Buddhist legend, after attaining enlightenment at the age of 36, the Buddha traveled to various parts of the Indian subcontinent to preach his doctrines until his death at the age of 80. The locations mentioned in this entry were all places where he had spent many rainy season retreats.
