Bianhua

Bianhua
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese變化
Simplified Chinese变化
Literal meaningtransformation; metamorphosis
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinbiànhuà
Wade–Gilespien-hua
IPApianxua
Wu
Romanizationpi ho
Hakka
Romanizationpien-fa
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingbin3 faa3
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinesepjenxwae
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014)pron-sqʷʰˤ
Korean name
Hangul변화
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationbyeonhwa
McCune–Reischauerpyŏnhwa
Japanese name
Kanji変化
Hiraganaへんか
Transcriptions
Revised Hepburnhenka

Bianhua, meaning 'transformation' or 'metamorphosis', was a keyword developed in both Daoism and Chinese Buddhism. Daoists used bianhua describing things transforming from one type to another, such as from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Buddhist translators used bianhua for Sanskrit nirmāṇa 'manifest through transformations', such as the nirmāṇa-kaya 'transformation body' of a Buddha's reincarnations.


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