Dynasties Han, Jin and the Disunity
The Early Dharma Text Translators
The Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.)
The Period of Three Kingdoms (220-280 A.D.)
The Jin Dynasty (285-420)
Kashyapamtanga
Dharmaraksha
An Shih-kao
Lokakshema
Chu Shih-hsing
Fa-shi
Samghavarman
Tan-ti
(Kashyapamtangao ~25 A.D.
o came from India
o regarded as the first translator for Buddhist sutras in China
o translated 5 sutras, but only 1 extant -- "Sutra of Forty-two Chapters"
49.2 Dharmaraksha o ~25 A.D.
o came from India to China and worked with Kashyapamatanga in the translation of sutras.
An Shih-kaoo ~170 A.D.
o It was custom in China to take the name of one's birthplace as a surname. "An" was actually not the surname of Shih-kao It simply meant that Shih-kao came from the country called An-hsi
o a prince of Parthia retreated into religion.
o went to China in the Han Dynasty; translated 35 Buddhist scriptures in 41 fascicles in 20 plus years.
o 20 of them are still extant and most of them are Hinayana Buddhist t
Lokakshema o 147-185 A.D.
o born in Kushan
o went to China in the Han Dynasty; translated 12 scriptures in 27 fascicles in 40 years.
o 9 scriptures in 20 fascicles are still extant and most of them are Mahayana Buddhist texts such as
§ Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra i.e. Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in Eight Thousand Lines, 10 fascicles in 179 .
§ Pratyutapnna Buddha Sammukhavasthita Samadhi Sutra - 3 fascicles
Chu Shih-hsing o ~200 A.D.
o went to Khotan and requested the King for the original text of Mahayana sutras.
o translated the sutras in 291 A.D.
Fa-shi
o came from Central India to China in the Period of Three Kingdoms.
o proficient in both Hinayana and Mahayana, also Vinaya
o the translation of Vinaya to commence the monastic rules and precepts of Sangha in China.
Samghavarman
o came from Samarkand or Soghdiana to China in the Period of Three Kingdoms.
o India monk believed to be of Tibetan descent.
o translation works included
§ Larger Sukhavativyuha, The Sutra of Infinite Life 2 fascicles, in 252 .
Tan-ti
o came from An-Shih to China during the Period of Three Kingdoms
o translated mainly the Vinaya.
Translators in the Period of Disunity (317-589 A.D.)
Chih-chien
Sanghapala / Kang Seng-hui
Dharmaraksha / Chu Fa-hu
Gautama Sanghadeva [
Buddhabhadra
Dharmanandi
Buddhayashas
Fa Hsien
Chu Fo-nein
Dharmakshema
Gunabhadra
Buddhajiva
Bodhiruchi
Prajnaruchi
Chih-chieno ~200 A.D.
o Moved from Kushan to China during Dong-wu Dynasty [�F�d] in the Period of Disunity
o translated 88 scriptures for both Hinayana and Mahayana, including
o Atthakavagga, i.e. Meaningful Chapters 2 fascicles in 223-253 .
o Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, i.e. Vimalakirti Sutra 2 fascicles between 223 and 253 A.D.
o Matangi Sutra 2 fascicles
Sanghapala / Kang Seng-hui ~250 .
o the eldest son of the Prime Minister of Soghdiana/Samarkand
o immigrated to China during Dong-wu Dynasty in the Period of Disunity
o translated scriptures, included Shatparamita Sangraha Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Collection of the Practices of the Six Perfections 8 fascicles between 251-280 .
Dharmaraksha / Chu Fa-huo 200-300 A.D.
o from India to China in the Period of Disunity
o ordained in 8 years old, very talented in reading and writing, proficient in 36 languages when he travelled
o known as Tun-huang Bodhisattva
o with a group of 12 translators, he translated 175 scriptures of 354 fascicles, including:
§ Avatamsaka Sutra
§ Agama Sutra
§ Vaipulya Sutras
§ Lotus Sutras
§ Nirvana Sutra
§ Panchavimshati Sahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra 10 fascicles in 286 .
§ Lalitavistara, Detailed Narration of the Sport of the Buddha 8 fascicles in 308
§ Ullambana Sutra 1 fascicle.
Gautama Sanghadeva ~300 A.D.
o from Kabul
o translated 7 scriptures during 383-398 A.D. including
§ Madhyama-agama . Middle Length Sayings 60 fascicles in 397-398 .
§ Ekottara-agama i.e. Gradual Sayings 51 fascicles 397-398 .
§ Treatise of the Heart of Abhidharma
Buddhabhadrao 394-468 .
o from Central India
o invited by Master Hui-yen to stay at Mount Lu to translate sutras
o translated 13 scriptures of 125 fascicles including
§ Avatamsaka Sutra in 60 fascicles in 418-421 A.D.
§ Mahasanghika Vinaya in 40 fascicles, in 416-418 A.D. jointly with Fa-Hsien
§ Yogacarabhum Sutra, i.e. Sutra on the Stages of Yoga Practice (also known as 2 fascicles in 398-421 A.D.
§ Mahaparinirvana-suta, i.e. Sutra of the Great Decease , 6 fascicles in 416-418 jointly with Fa-hsien
§ Tathagatagarbha Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Tathagata Treasury 1 fascicle in 420 A.D.
Dharmanandi
o § Madhyama-agama, i.e. Middle Length Sayings in 59 fascicles
§ Ekottara-agama, i.e. Gradual Sayingsin 50 fascicles
o the above translated sutras are not extant.
Buddhayashas
o teacher/advisor of Kumarajiva in Buddhism
o welcomed by the Emperor Yao Hsing of Later Chin Dynasty [ when arrived in Chang-an , China
o translation works including
§ Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, i.e. Four-Category Vinaya 60 fascicles in 410-412 A.D.
§ Dirgha-agama i.e. Long Sayings 22 fascicles in 412-413 A.D.; jointly with Chu Fo-nien
Fa Hsieno ~422 A.D.
o regarded as the first important Chinese pilgrim
o left China to India in 399 A.D. seeking the original text of Vinaya and other Buddhist scriptures
o returned to China after 15 years bringing many valuable Buddhist scriptures for both Hinayana and Mahayana
o he wrote "Records of the Buddhist Kingdoms" , a documentary to record his travels over 30 countries in India, Sri Lanka, etc.
o translation works including
§ Mahaparinirvana Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Great Decease 6 fascicles in 416-418 A.D., jointly with Buddhabhdra
§ Mahasanghika Vinaya, i.e. Vinaya of the Mahasanghika School 40 fascicles in 416-418 A.D., together with Buddhabhadra in translation.
Chu Fo-nein
o he was the companion of Buddhayashas in translation works
o there were 12 scriptures in 74 fascicles in his own translation works, including
§ Dirgha-agama, i.e. Long Sayings 22 fascicles in 412-413 A.D., jointly with Buddhayashas
Dharmakshema
o 385-433 A.D.
o from Central India to China during Bei-liang Dynasty during the Period of Disunity
o translated 19 scriptures in 131 fascicles including
§ Mahaparinirvana Sutra i.e. Sutra of the Great Decease 40 fascicles in 414-421 A.D., usually taken as the northern version.
§ Mahasamnipata Sutra, i.e. Great Collection of Sutras60 fascicles in 414-426 A.D.
§ Buddhacarita 5 fascicles
§ Bodhisattva Bhumi, i.e. Sutra of a Bodhisattva's Spiritual States 10 fascicles between 414 and 426 A.D.
§ Suvanapabhasa Sutra, i.e. Golden Light Sutra 4 fascicles in 414-426 A.D.
§ Upasakasila Sutra 7 fascicles.
Gunabhadrao 394-468 A.D.
o moved from Ceylon to China during the Period of Disunity.
o Translated 52 scriptures in 134 fascicles including:
§ Samyukta-agama, i.e. Kindred Saying 50 fascicles in 435-443 A.D.
§ Lankaratara Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Appearance of the Good Doctrine in (Sri) Lanka 4 fascicles in 443 A.D.
§ Samdhinirmochana Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Continuation Stream of Emancipation 1 fascicle in 420 A.D.
§ Shrimaladevi Simhanada Sutra, i.e. Queen of Shrimala Sutra (the Lion's Roar of Queen Shrimala)1 fascicle in 436 A.D.
Buddhajiva ~423 A.D.
o specialized in Vinaya
§ Mahishasaka Vinaya, i.e. Five-category Vinaya 30 fascicles
Paramartha 499-569 A.D.
o from Western India to Southern China during the Period of Disunity
o translated over 50 scriptures in over 120 fascicles including:
§ Suvarnaprabhasa Sutra i.e. Golden Light Sutra 7 fascicles in 552 A.D.
§ Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra: Diamond Sutra 1 fascicle in 558-559 A.D.
§ Mahayana Shraddhotpada Shastra, i.e. Treatise on the Awaking of Faith in Mahayana 1 fascicle in 553 A.D.
§ Mahayanasamgraha i.e. Comprehensive Treatise on Mahayana Buddhism 3 fascicles in 563 A.D.
§ Treatise on the Buddha's nature 4 fascicle in 557-569 A.D.
§ Saptadasha Bhumika Shastra, i.e. Treatise on the Seventeen Stages of Spiritual Development 5 fascicles
§ Abhidharama Kosha Shastra i.e. Abhidharma Storehouse Treatise
§ Samdhinirmochana Sutra i.e. Sutra of Emancipationbetween 557-589 A.D.
§ Saddharmapundarikopadesa2 fascicles.
§ Sutra on Neither Increasing nor Deceasing 1 fascicle in 525