Gan ta po, Gān tà pó, Qián tà pó, Qian ta po: 4 definitions

Introduction:

Gan ta po means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Chinese Buddhism

乾闥婆 [gan ta po]—gandharva or gandharva kāyikās, spirits on Gandha-mādana 香 [xiang] 山 [shan] the fragrant or incense mountains, so called because the Gandharvas do not drink wine or eat meat, but feed on incense or fragrance and give off fragrant odours. As musicians of Indra, or in the retinue of Dhṛtarāṣtra, they are said to be the same as, or similar to, the Kinnaras. They are, or according to M.W., Dhṛtarāṣtra is associated with soma, the moon, and with medicine. They cause ecstasy, are erotic, and the patrons of marriageable girls; the Apsaras are their wives, and both are patrons of dicers.

Source: archive.org: A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

乾闥婆 [gan ta po]—Gandharva is a celestial being, also known as 健達婆 [jian da po] (Jiàndábó), 犍達縛 [jian da fu] (Jiāndáfú), 健闥婆 [jian ta po] (Jiàntàbó), 乾沓和 [gan da he] (Gāntàhé), 乾沓婆 [gan da po] (Gāntàbó), 彥達縛 [yan da fu] (Yàndáfú), or 犍陀羅 [jian tuo luo] (Jiāntuóluó). It is translated as 'fragrance god' (香神 [xiang shen]), 'smelling fragrance' (嗅香 [xiu xiang]), 'fragrant body' (香陰 [xiang yin]), or 'fragrance-seeker' (尋香行 [xun xiang xing]). It refers to a musician (樂人 [le ren]) and is one of the Eight Classes of Non-human Beings (八部眾 [ba bu zhong]), specifically a music deity (樂神 [le shen]). They do not consume alcohol or meat, but only seek fragrance to sustain their ethereal bodies. Fragrance also emanates from their ethereal bodies, hence the names 'fragrance god' and 'fragrance-seeker'. Together with the Kinnara (緊那羅 [jin na luo]), they serve the god Indra (帝釋 [di shi]) and are in charge of playing music. The Kinnara are associated with Dharma music, while the Gandharva are associated with secular music.

The Commentary on the Vimalakīrti Sūtra (注維摩經 [zhu wei mo jing]), Volume 1, states: "Jiumozhi [Kumārajīva] says: Gandharva is a celestial music deity. Dwelling in the ten jewel mountains on earth, when the gods wish to make music, a sign appears on the body of this deity, and then they ascend to heaven."

The Tiantai Commentary on the Vimalakīrti Sūtra (天台淨名疏 [tian tai jing ming shu]), Volume 2, states: "Gandharva, translated as 'fragrant body' (香陰 [xiang yin]). This is also a god that flies through the air, consuming no alcohol or meat, but only fragrance to sustain their body."

The Wenju (文句 [wen ju]), Volume 2, Part 2, states: "Gandharva, translated as 'smelling fragrance' (嗅香 [xiu xiang]), taking fragrance as food, also called 'fragrant body' (香陰 [xiang yin]), as fragrance emanates from their body. This is the god of secular music for the Deva king."

The Jiaxiang Commentary on the Lotus Sūtra (嘉祥法華義疏 [jia xiang fa hua yi shu]), Volume 2, states: "犍撻婆 [jian ta po] (Jiāndáfú), translated as 'fragrant body' (香陰 [xiang yin]), because they are pure and ethereal and feed on fragrance. Also, fragrance constantly emanates from their body, hence the name 'fragrant body'."

The Xuanying Glossary of Sounds and Meanings (玄應音義 [xuan ying yin yi]), Volume 3, states: "犍沓和 [jian da he] (Gāntàhé). Also called 犍陀羅 [jian tuo luo] (Jiāntuóluó), or written as 乾沓婆 [gan da po] (Gāntàbó), or 犍達婆 [jian da po] (Jiāndábó), or (Gandharva). These are old names. The correct pronunciation now is 犍達縛 [jian da fu] (Jiāndáfú), all being variations in national pronunciation. This is translated as 'smelling fragrance' (嗅香 [xiu xiang]), also as 'music deity' (樂神 [le shen]), one says 'feeding on fragrance', the old term 'fragrance god' (香神 [xiang shen]) is also close. In the sūtras, they are also referred to as 'fragrance sound deities'."

In a miscellaneous context, in the customs of the Western Regions, actors (俳優 [pai you]) were called Gandharva. These individuals did not engage in regular livelihoods but only sought the scent of food, performing music and begging for sustenance, hence the name. The Commentary on the Twenty Verses on Vijñaptimātratā (二十唯識述記 [er shi wei shi shu ji]), Volume 1, states: "In the Western Regions, actors are also called 'fragrance-seekers' (尋香 [xun xiang]). These individuals do not serve kings or princes, nor do they engage in livelihoods; they only seek the fragrance of food from various households, then go to their doors to perform music and beg for food." The Xuanzan (玄贊 [xuan zan]), Volume 2, states: "Sanskrit calls them 健闥縛 [jian ta fu] (Jiàntàbó). This is translated as 'fragrance-seeker' (尋香行 [xun xiang xing]), meaning a music deity. (Gandharva) is a corruption. In the Western Regions, street performers are called 健闥縛 [jian ta fu] (Jiàntàbó) because they specifically seek out fragrances, perform music, and beg for food."

As a technical term, it refers to the intermediate existence (中有 [zhong you]), the intermediate body that dies here and is reborn there. It also feeds on fragrance. The Commentary on the Twenty Verses on Vijñaptimātratā (二十唯識述記 [er shi wei shi shu ji]), Volume 1, states: "Sanskrit calls it 健達縛 [jian da fu] (Jiàndáfú), which means 'seeking fragrance,' referring to the intermediate being that can seek the fragrance of its destined place of birth and then be reborn there, also named 健達縛 [jian da fu] (Jiàndáfú)." The Guangji Commentary on the Abhidharmakośa-bhāṣya (俱舍論光記 [ju she lun guang ji]), Volume 8, states: "健達 [jian da] (Jiàndá) means fragrance, 縛 [fu] (fú) means food, thus referring to the intermediate being."

乾闥婆—【天名】Gandharva,又作健達婆、犍達縛、健闥婆、乾沓和、乾沓婆、彥達縛、犍陀羅等。譯曰香神、嗅香、香陰、尋香行。樂人之稱。又八部眾之一。樂神名。不食酒肉,唯求香以資陰身,又自其陰身出香,故有香神乃至尋香行之稱。與緊那羅同,奉侍帝釋而司奏伎樂。緊那羅者法樂,乾闥婆者修樂。注維摩經一曰:「什曰:乾闥婆,天樂神也。處地十寶山中,天欲作樂時,此神體上有相出,然後上天也。」天台淨名疏二曰:「乾闥婆,此云香陰。此亦陵空之神,不噉酒肉唯香資陰。」文句二下曰:「乾闥婆,此云嗅香,以香為食,亦云香陰,其身出香,此是天帝俗樂之神也。」嘉祥法華義疏二曰:「犍撻婆,此云香陰,以其清虛食香。又身唯恒出香,故名香陰。」玄應音義三曰:「犍沓和。又云犍陀羅,或作乾沓婆,或云犍達婆,或云乾闥婆。舊名也。今正言犍達縛,皆國音之不同也。此云嗅香,亦云樂神,一云食香,舊云香神,亦近也。經中亦作香音神也。」(緊那羅)

【雜名】西域之俗,俳優謂之乾闥婆。彼等不事生業,只尋飲食之氣,作樂而乞求,故名。二十唯識述記上曰:「西域呼俳優亦云尋香。此等不事王侯,不作生業,唯尋諸家飲食等香氣,便往其門作諸伎樂,而求飲食。」玄贊二曰:「梵云健闥縛。此云尋香行。即作樂神。乾闥婆,訛也。西域由此呼散樂為健闥縛,專尋香氣作樂乞求故。」

【術語】中有之稱,死於此而生於彼之中間身也。彼亦以香為食。二十唯識述記上曰:「梵云健達縛,此云尋香,謂中有能尋當生處香即往生,亦名健達縛。」俱舍論光記八曰:「健達名香,縛名食,即中有名。」

[tiān míng]Gandharva, yòu zuò jiàn dá pó,, jiān dá fù,, jiàn tà pó,, gān dá hé,, gān dá pó,, yàn dá fù,, jiān tuó luó děng. yì yuē xiāng shén,, xiù xiāng,, xiāng yīn,, xún xiāng xíng. lè rén zhī chēng. yòu bā bù zhòng zhī yī. lè shén míng. bù shí jiǔ ròu, wéi qiú xiāng yǐ zī yīn shēn, yòu zì qí yīn shēn chū xiāng, gù yǒu xiāng shén nǎi zhì xún xiāng xíng zhī chēng. yǔ jǐn nà luó tóng, fèng shì dì shì ér sī zòu jì lè. jǐn nà luó zhě fǎ lè, gān tà pó zhě xiū lè. zhù wéi mó jīng yī yuē: “shén yuē: gān tà pó, tiān lè shén yě. chù de shí bǎo shān zhōng, tiān yù zuò lè shí, cǐ shén tǐ shàng yǒu xiāng chū, rán hòu shàng tiān yě.” tiān tái jìng míng shū èr yuē: “gān tà pó, cǐ yún xiāng yīn. cǐ yì líng kōng zhī shén, bù dàn jiǔ ròu wéi xiāng zī yīn.” wén jù èr xià yuē: “gān tà pó, cǐ yún xiù xiāng, yǐ xiāng wèi shí, yì yún xiāng yīn, qí shēn chū xiāng, cǐ shì tiān dì sú lè zhī shén yě.” jiā xiáng fǎ huá yì shū èr yuē: “jiān tà pó, cǐ yún xiāng yīn, yǐ qí qīng xū shí xiāng. yòu shēn wéi héng chū xiāng, gù míng xiāng yīn.” xuán yīng yīn yì sān yuē: “jiān dá hé. yòu yún jiān tuó luó, huò zuò gān dá pó, huò yún jiān dá pó, huò yún gān tà pó. jiù míng yě. jīn zhèng yán jiān dá fù, jiē guó yīn zhī bù tóng yě. cǐ yún xiù xiāng, yì yún lè shén, yī yún shí xiāng, jiù yún xiāng shén, yì jìn yě. jīng zhōng yì zuò xiāng yīn shén yě.” (jǐn nà luó)

[zá míng] xī yù zhī sú, pái yōu wèi zhī gān tà pó. bǐ děng bù shì shēng yè, zhǐ xún yǐn shí zhī qì, zuò lè ér qǐ qiú, gù míng. èr shí wéi shí shù jì shàng yuē: “xī yù hū pái yōu yì yún xún xiāng. cǐ děng bù shì wáng hóu, bù zuò shēng yè, wéi xún zhū jiā yǐn shí děng xiāng qì, biàn wǎng qí mén zuò zhū jì lè, ér qiú yǐn shí.” xuán zàn èr yuē: “fàn yún jiàn tà fù. cǐ yún xún xiāng xíng. jí zuò lè shén. gān tà pó, é yě. xī yù yóu cǐ hū sàn lè wèi jiàn tà fù, zhuān xún xiāng qì zuò lè qǐ qiú gù.”

[shù yǔ] zhōng yǒu zhī chēng, sǐ yú cǐ ér shēng yú bǐ zhī zhōng jiān shēn yě. bǐ yì yǐ xiāng wèi shí. èr shí wéi shí shù jì shàng yuē: “fàn yún jiàn dá fù, cǐ yún xún xiāng, wèi zhōng yǒu néng xún dāng shēng chù xiāng jí wǎng shēng, yì míng jiàn dá fù.” jù shě lùn guāng jì bā yuē: “jiàn dá míng xiāng, fù míng shí, jí zhōng yǒu míng.”

[tian ming]Gandharva, you zuo jian da po,, jian da fu,, jian ta po,, gan da he,, gan da po,, yan da fu,, jian tuo luo deng. yi yue xiang shen,, xiu xiang,, xiang yin,, xun xiang xing. le ren zhi cheng. you ba bu zhong zhi yi. le shen ming. bu shi jiu rou, wei qiu xiang yi zi yin shen, you zi qi yin shen chu xiang, gu you xiang shen nai zhi xun xiang xing zhi cheng. yu jin na luo tong, feng shi di shi er si zou ji le. jin na luo zhe fa le, gan ta po zhe xiu le. zhu wei mo jing yi yue: "shen yue: gan ta po, tian le shen ye. chu de shi bao shan zhong, tian yu zuo le shi, ci shen ti shang you xiang chu, ran hou shang tian ye." tian tai jing ming shu er yue: "gan ta po, ci yun xiang yin. ci yi ling kong zhi shen, bu dan jiu rou wei xiang zi yin." wen ju er xia yue: "gan ta po, ci yun xiu xiang, yi xiang wei shi, yi yun xiang yin, qi shen chu xiang, ci shi tian di su le zhi shen ye." jia xiang fa hua yi shu er yue: "jian ta po, ci yun xiang yin, yi qi qing xu shi xiang. you shen wei heng chu xiang, gu ming xiang yin." xuan ying yin yi san yue: "jian da he. you yun jian tuo luo, huo zuo gan da po, huo yun jian da po, huo yun gan ta po. jiu ming ye. jin zheng yan jian da fu, jie guo yin zhi bu tong ye. ci yun xiu xiang, yi yun le shen, yi yun shi xiang, jiu yun xiang shen, yi jin ye. jing zhong yi zuo xiang yin shen ye." (jin na luo)

[za ming] xi yu zhi su, pai you wei zhi gan ta po. bi deng bu shi sheng ye, zhi xun yin shi zhi qi, zuo le er qi qiu, gu ming. er shi wei shi shu ji shang yue: "xi yu hu pai you yi yun xun xiang. ci deng bu shi wang hou, bu zuo sheng ye, wei xun zhu jia yin shi deng xiang qi, bian wang qi men zuo zhu ji le, er qiu yin shi." xuan zan er yue: "fan yun jian ta fu. ci yun xun xiang xing. ji zuo le shen. gan ta po, e ye. xi yu you ci hu san le wei jian ta fu, zhuan xun xiang qi zuo le qi qiu gu."

[shu yu] zhong you zhi cheng, si yu ci er sheng yu bi zhi zhong jian shen ye. bi yi yi xiang wei shi. er shi wei shi shu ji shang yue: "fan yun jian da fu, ci yun xun xiang, wei zhong you neng xun dang sheng chu xiang ji wang sheng, yi ming jian da fu." ju she lun guang ji ba yue: "jian da ming xiang, fu ming shi, ji zhong you ming."

Source: DILA Glossaries: Ding Fubao: Dictionary of Buddhist Studies

1) 乾闥婆 t = 乾闼婆 s = gān tà pó p refers to [noun] “a gandharva”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao] , Subdomain: India; Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: gandharva, Pali: gandhabba, Japanese: kendatsuba, Tibetan: dri za; a kind of celestial being known for musical skills (BL 'gandharva', pp. 311-312; Dhammajoti, 2013, p. 201; FGDB '乾闥婆 [gan ta po]'; Mahāvyutpatti 'gandharvaḥ'; MW 'gandharva'; SH '乾闥婆 [gan ta po]', p. 341) .

2) 揵闥婆 t = 揵闼婆 s = qián tà pó p refers to [noun] “a gandharva”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao] , Subdomain: India; Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: gandharva, Pali: gandhabba; see 乾闥婆 [gan ta po] (FGDB '乾闥婆 [gan ta po]') ..

Source: NTI Reader: Chinese-English Buddhist dictionary
context information

Chinese Buddhism (漢傳佛教, hanchuan fojiao) is the form of Buddhism that developed in China, blending Mahayana teachings with Daoist and Confucian thought. Its texts are mainly in Classical Chinese, based on translations from Sanskrit. Major schools include Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Tiantai, and Huayan. Chinese Buddhism has greatly influenced East Asian religion and culture.

Discover the meaning of gan ta po in the context of Chinese Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

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[«previous next»] — Gan ta po in Chinese glossary

1) 乾闥婆 [gān tà pó] refers to: “gandharva”.

乾闥婆 is further associated with the following language/terms:

[Related Chinese terms] 健達縛.

[Pali] gandhabba.

[Tibetan] dri za.

[Vietnamese] càn thát bà.

[Korean] 건달파 / gandalpa.

[Japanese] ケンダツバ / kendatsuba.

2) 揵闥婆 [qián tà pó] refers to: “gandharva”.

揵闥婆 is further associated with the following language/terms:

[Vietnamese] kiền thát bà.

[Korean] 건달바 / geondalba.

[Japanese] ケンダツバ / kendatsuba.

Source: DILA Glossaries: Digital Dictionary of Buddhism
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Chinese language.

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