The Five Great Translators of Buddhist Scriptures

Kumarajiva (AD 344~413) was a native of Qiuci Kingdom in the Western Regions (now Kuqa County, Xinjiang). Kumarajiva is an epoch-making person in the history of Chinese Buddhism. His father was the Prime Minister of the country. Kumarajiva became a monk with his mother when he was 7 years old. When he grew up, he became proficient in Mahayana Buddhism and became a great master with a far-reaching reputation. The former Qin monarch Fu Jian conquered Qiuci and wanted to take him to Chang'an. However, due to the subsequent subjugation of the country, Kumarajiva stayed in Houliang for 16 years. Later, Yao Xing, the monarch of the Later Qin Dynasty, took Kumarajiva to Chang'an and allowed him to engage in the work of translating scriptures with peace of mind. He finally passed away in Chang'an at the age of 69.

Kumarashi organized the first government-run Bible translation field in Chang'an in Chinese history. Kumarajiva and his disciples translated 584 volumes of 74 Buddhist scriptures. Kumarajiva's translations are mainly free translations, and pay attention to rhetoric. The translations are fluent and very literary. They mainly include "Maha Prajna", "Miaofa Lotus Sutra", "Vimalakīrti Sutra", "Diamond Sutra", " "Amitabha Sutra", "Middle Theory", "Twelve Doors Theory", "Great Wisdom Theory", "Chengshi Theory", etc., systematically introduces the ideological system of the Mahayana Madhyamaka school. Zhenyi (AD 499~569), a native of Uchani, India, was proficient in Mahayana Buddhism. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Zhenyi brought a large number of Sanskrit classics to Jiankang, the capital of Liang, by boat. When he was about to start translating the scriptures, the "Hou Jing Rebellion" occurred, so Zhenyi traveled to Fuchun and began to translate the scriptures. After that, Zhenyi traveled to various places many times, and in the era of war and chaos, he always insisted on translating scriptures.

Zhenyi and his disciples have translated 49 Buddhist scriptures and 142 volumes. The famous ones include "Supreme Sutra", "Seventeen Grounds", "Photography Mahayana" and "Kusha Commentary" "wait. A famous translator of scriptures in the fifth and sixth centuries. Sanskrit name Parama^rtha. Transliterated as Boluo Mota, Boluo Motuo. Also known as Kulanatha. Ujjaini is a Brahmin from northwest India, with the surname Bharata. Smart, strong memory, endless eloquence. He traveled to various countries for a long time, experienced various teachers, studied the Four Wei and Six Commentaries, thoroughly practiced the Tripitaka and the Five Parts, and studied the wonderful principles of Mahayana. In the first year of Datong (546) in the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty, he arrived in the South China Sea with the classics. In the second year of the Taiqing Dynasty (548), he went to Jianye (Nanjing) to pay an audience to Emperor Wu. During the Hou Jing rebellion, he sneaked back south and traveled to present-day Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangzhou and other places. Write a commentary to explain the theoretical interests of the classics. Chen Taijian passed away in the first year of his life and lived to be seventy-one years old. From the end of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty to the first year of Chen Taijian, 64 volumes of 278 volumes of Buddhist scriptures were translated by the Communist Party of China. Today, only 30 volumes remain, most of which are important classics for Buddhist studies. Together with Kumarajiva, Xuanzang and Yijing, they are known as the four great translators. His translation methods and knowledge make him a leader in the history of Buddhist translation in my country. In addition to the classics on consciousness-only theory such as the theory of turning consciousness and the theory of Mahayana consciousness-only theory, the main translated works include the Golden Light Sutra, the theory of Mahayana theory, the theory of Mahayana theory, the theory of twenty-two laws of understanding, the theory of distinguishing between middle and outer parts, and the theory of seventeen ground ( This book is a unique edition of the Yogā?ā?ā?a), the Ku??ā?a, and the Mahayana Awakening of Faith, etc. Among them, the Shen Mahayana Theory and the Shen Mahayana Theory and Interpretation had the greatest influence. These two theories were the main theoretical basis of the Shenlun school in the Southern Dynasties, and Zhenyi was revered as the ancestor of the Shenlun sect. Xuanzang (AD 600~664) was a native of the Feng family in Luozhou, China (now Yanshi, Luoyang, Henan). Xuanzang became a monk at the age of 12 and read Buddhist scriptures extensively. Because he felt that there were many discrepancies in the Buddhist scriptures at that time, which was confusing, Xuanzang decided to go to India to obtain scriptures. In the first year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang set out from Chang'an alone and went through hardships to reach Nalanda Temple, the center of Indian Buddhism. Xuanzang became a disciple of the abbot Jie Xian and was later promoted to deputy chief lecturer of the temple. Xuanzang returned to Chang'an in the 19th year of Zhenguan and brought back 150 Buddha relics, 7 Buddha statues, and 657 scriptures. Later, with the support of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Xuanzang set up a translation center at Daci'en Temple in Chang'an, where he and his disciples concentrated on translating the Buddhist scriptures they brought back.

Xuan Zang and his disciples translated 75 Buddhist scriptures, totaling 1,355 volumes. Xuanzang's translated works include the Mahaprajna Sutra, the Heart Sutra, the Interpretation of the Deep Esoteric Sutra, the Theory of the Yoga Master, and the Theory of Consciousness-Only Knowledge, etc.

Monk of the Tang Dynasty, founder of Faxiang Sect, Buddhist scripture translator and traveler. Xuanzang became a monk when he was young. His family was poor and his parents died young. At the age of 20, he received full ordination in Chengdu. He has traveled around the country and visited famous teachers. He successively studied the Mahayana Theory of Photography, Zabhi Tanxin Lun, Cheng Shi Lun, Ku She Lun and Mahayana Lun from Hui Xiu, Dao Shen, Dao Yue, Fachang, Seng Bian, Xuan Hui, etc. "The Parinirvana Sutra" and other sutras and commentaries, his attainments are getting deeper and deeper. Traveling to the West to Seek Dharma After years of giving lectures and hearings in various places, he felt that there were many different opinions and no way to understand it.

Especially at that time, the two schools of photography and earth theory had different opinions on the appearance of the Dharma, so I came up with the idea of ??going to India to seek "Yoga Guru earth theory" to understand everything. In the first year of Zhenguan (627), Xuanzang married Chen Biao and asked permission to travel west to seek Dharma. But it was not approved by Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty. However, Xuanzang was determined and "brave the charter and headed privately to Tianzhu", starting from Chang'an Shenyi and ending in Wangshe New City, a long journey of more than 50,000 miles. In the first month of the second year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang arrived at the royal city of Gaochang (today's Turpan County, Xinjiang) and was greeted by Qu Wentai, the king of Gaochang. Later, it passed through Quzhi (now Kuqa, Xinjiang), Lingshan (Yamsuer Ridge), Suye City, Jiabishi State, Chi Jianguo (now Tashkent, Soviet Union), and Sajiang Jianguo (east of today's Samarkand City). , Congling, Iron Gate. Arrive at the hometown of Huoluo Kingdom (today’s west of Congling and the area south of Wuhu River). Heading south, we passed through the Kingdom of Fuhe (now Balkh in northern Afghanistan), the Kingdom of Jiezhi (now Ghazi, Afghanistan), the Snowy Mountains, the Vanyana Kingdom (now Bamiyan in Afghanistan), and the Kingdom of Ganshuangluo (now Peshawar, Pakistan). and the adjoining eastern part of Afghanistan), the Uvona Kingdom (the Swat region of Pakistan), and reaches the Kashimila Kingdom. Here I learned the "Kusashastra", "Shunzheng Theory" and the cause of enlightenment and statement from Sangcheng (or Sangsheng), and talked with Vishudha Sengha (Pure Master's Son) and Sangsugammitara (Tathagata). Friend), Vasumitra (World Friend), Suryadeva (Ritian), Chennarata (Supreme Savior), etc. wrote letters on Buddhism, for 2 years before and after. After that, he went to the Dhojia Kingdom (today's Punjab, Pakistan) to learn the Sutras and the Guangbaisana from an old Brahmin; to the Naputi Kingdom (today's Firozpur in northern India) to learn Vimitabha. Labo (Tune Fu Guang) studied "Dharma Theory" and "Sutra Theory"; he went to Jamlandala Kingdom (today's Jalandhar in northern India) to receive "The Divide of All Things" from Chandala Vaman (Yuezhou). "Bhasa"; went to the country of Suluchenna (now north of Rohtak in northern India) to learn "Sutra Vipassa" from Janata; went to the country of Marodipura (now north of Mendavor in northern India) to learn from Mitho Xina received "Bian Zhen Lun" and "Suifa Zhi Lun"; he went to Qunu City (today's Leke on the west bank of the Ganges River in India) to learn "Buddha's Messenger Viposha" and "Rizhou Vipo" from Lehangyasi Na sand". In the fifth year of Zhenguan, he arrived at Nalanda Temple in the Kingdom of Magadha to study under Jie Xian. Xuanzang stayed in Nalanda Temple for 5 years, received favorable treatment, and was selected as one of the ten virtues who knew the Tripitaka. Listened to Jie Xian's lectures on "Yogi's Ground Theory", "Shunzheng Theory" and "Promote the Holy Teachings", "On Dharma", "Jijushu", "Middle Theory", "Hundred Theory", as well as the explanations and statements. At the same time, he also studied various Brahman books. Traveling through the Five Seals In the 10th year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang left Nalanda Temple and successively visited the Ilanbovaduo Kingdom (today's Mongil in northern India), the Salo Kingdom, the Andaro Kingdom, and the Tuanajidika Kingdom (today's Ketaka on the east coast of India). At the mouth of the Krishna River), the Dravidian Kingdom (south of Madras, India), the Langgara Kingdom (the area east of Makran, west of the Indus River), and the Bhavado Kingdom (about present-day Jammu, Kashmir) ), visit teachers and study. He stayed in Bovaduo Kingdom for two years and carefully studied the "Abhidharma Abhidhamma", "Shengli Dharma", "Shengshi", etc., and then returned to Nalanda Temple. Soon after, he went to Lowasaka Temple to discuss with Prajnabhadra all the three Tibetans of healing, as well as causes, explanations, etc. He also went to Zhanlin Mountain to visit the victorious army to study consciousness-only decision-making, meaning theory, attaining fearlessness, non-absorbing nirvana, and ten After discussing and questioning the two theories of causality and solemn sutra, he still returned to Nalanda Temple two years later. At this time, Jiexian asked Xuanzang to give lectures on photography and consciousness-only decision-making to the monks in Nalanda Temple. It happened that Shi Ziguang, a master of the Madhyamaka Viscant Pragmatism (Bhabi Marga) line, was also there to lecture on the "Middle Way" and "Hundred Treatises", and opposed the theory that the Dharma is only consciousness. So Xuanzang wrote three thousand verses in "Hui Zong Lun" to reconcile the two schools of Mahayana Madhyamaka and Yoga. At the same time, he participated in the debate with Prajna Tao, a scholar of the Samajāra Buddhism, and wrote 1,600 verses "On the Control of Evil Views". He was also invited by King Kumarajiva of the Kamolubo Kingdom of Eastern India (today's Assam region of India) to give lectures on scriptures and write "The Theory of Three Bodies". Then he met with King Harsha and received generous courtesy. King Harsha decided to use Xuanzang as the main argument and held a Buddhist debate meeting in Qunu City. 18 kings from the Five Seals, 3,000 Mahayana Buddhist scholars and 2,000 heretics participated. At that time, Xuanzang was giving lectures and no one could ask questions, but no one could answer them. At that time, he was famous among the five seals, and was revered as the "Mahayana Heaven" by the Mahayana and the "Liberation Heaven" by the Hinayana. King Harsha also insisted on inviting Xuanzang to attend the 75-day Uncensored Conference, which was held every five years. Return home after the meeting. Returning to China to Translate Scripture On the twenty-fifth day of the first month of the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang returned to Chang'an. History records that at that time, "the Taoism and customs rushed to welcome it, and the whole city went on strike." Soon, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty met with him and persuaded him to return to secular life and serve as an official. Xuanzang politely declined.

Later, he stayed at Hongfu Temple in Chang'an to translate the scriptures. The imperial court provided the necessary supplies, and more than 20 famous monks from various places were recruited to assist in translation. They were responsible for the duties of Zhengyi, Zhengwen, Zhengzi, Zhengfan, etc., forming a complete translation field. In May of the same year, 20 volumes of the Great Bodhisattva Sutra were translated and completed in September. In the first month of the 20th year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang translated 20 volumes of "Xiangyang Shengjiao Lun" without writing; he also orally completed the "Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" by Bian Ji and Bianshou. In the same year, he translated "The Interpretation of the Deep Secret Sutra" and "Yin Ming Entering the Right Theory", which promoted the development of Yin Ming in China. Later, he was ordered to translate "Laozi" and "The Theory of Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana" into Sanskrit and spread them to India. In May of the 22nd year, 100 volumes of "Yogi's Earth Treatise" were translated and Taizong was asked to write a preface. In October, the "Breaking Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra" was translated. Soon after the Da Ci'en Temple was completed, Xuanzang was ordered to move in and take up the post of lord, and devoted himself to translating Buddhist scriptures. In the third year of Yonghui (652), a petition was made to build a pagoda to house Buddhist statues. With Gao Shi's permission, the Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the west courtyard of Daci'en Temple. Xuanzang "carried the bamboo basket personally and carried the bricks and stones for the first and last two weeks (years), when the work began to be completed." In the third year of Xianqing (658), he moved to Ximing Temple. Because he was often disturbed by trivial matters, he moved to Yuhua Temple and devoted himself to translating scriptures. In the fifth year of Xianqing's reign, he began to translate the Mahaprajna Sutra. The Sanskrit version of this sutra contains 200,000 verses and is a very large volume. Every time his disciples asked for deletions, Xuanzang was quite cautious and did not delete a single word. In the third year of Longshuo (663), this 600-volume masterpiece was finally translated. After that, Xuanzang felt deeply that his body and mind were declining. In the first year of Linde (664), he translated one volume of "Five Curses" and completed it. He died in February of the same year. According to records, Xuanzang translated 75 scriptures and treatises, totaling 1,335 volumes. The translated scriptures are called new translations by later generations. Main theories ① Five castes theory. It further develops the five-caste theory of the Indian sages, which divides all sentient beings into the Sravaka caste, the Pratyekabuddha caste, the Tathagata caste, the indefinite caste, and the non-caste. It is believed that the outcome of spiritual practice can be determined based on a person's innate qualities. Here Xuanzang summarizes the theories of various schools in India and gives a systematic explanation of the theory of the five castes. ②Consciousness only theory. Xuanzang and his school of thought believe that everything in the world (including the human self) does not exist independently, but is manifested by people's consciousness, that is, everything in the world "changes only by consciousness." The most fundamental consciousness is called "alaya consciousness", which is the "seed" of all things and phenomena in the world and the origin of the universe. ③Because of Ming. Yinming is very developed in the Indian yoga department. After Vasubandhu, through the development of Chenna and Dharma Protector, the Vi??a and Consciousness-only doctrines were closely integrated. Xuanzang made new developments on this basis. He proposed "True Knowledge Only" in India. After returning to China, in addition to translating Yin Ming's main works, he also elaborated on the nature of Yin Ming's debates and arguments, deepened Yin Ming's method of establishing quantities, and conducted a detailed analysis of Yin Ming's theory of ground breaking. Xuanzang devoted his whole life to the cause of Buddhism. Most of his deeds can be found in "The Biography of Master Tripitaka of Da Ci'en Temple in the Tang Dynasty" and "The Continuing Biography of the Eminent Monk: The Biography of Xuanzang". The important works that study Xuanzang's school of thought include, in addition to "The Theory of Consciousness-Wei", the "Three Major Parts of Consciousness-Wei", namely Kuji's "The Theory of Consciousness-Wei" by Ku Ji, Hui Nuo's "The Theory of Consciousness-Wei" and "The Theory of Consciousness", Zhizhou's "The Secret of the Theory of Consciousness-only Theory". Disciple Xuanzang’s studies are profound and profound. At that time, Shuo Yan gathered his disciples. Shen Fang, Jia Shang, Pu Guang, and Gui Ji are known as the four masters of Zangmen, and they are all masters of Dharma. Pu Guang, Dharma Bao, and Shentai are called the three masters of Kushe. Que Ji, Shen Tai, and Shunjing are also the masters of Yin Ming; The eminent Silla monk Yuanchi was Xuanzang's divine foot; Silla Yuanxiao was a master of Huayan; Xiyu Lishe was a famous Buddhist monk; Nanshan Daoxuan was Zhengyi and was the master of legal studies; Xuanying was a famous scholar of righteousness; Dongta Huai Su, later became the master of Xinshu. Bu Kong (705~774 AD), a native of the Lion Kingdom (now Sri Lanka). Fu Kong came to China during the Tang Dynasty and was one of the "Three Great Masters of Kaiyuan". He had an important influence on the formation of Chinese Tantric Buddhism. Bu Kong first came to Luoyang and then to Chang'an with his master Vajra Zhi. Then Bu Kong set up a dojo in Daxing Temple in Chang'an, translated Tantric classics, and taught monks to receive ordination, which greatly increased the influence of Tantric Buddhism in China.

Fu Kong and his disciples translated more than 100 Buddhist scriptures, mainly including "Vajra Sutra", "Prajna Sutra", "Huayan" and "Daji". Monks of the Tang Dynasty. One of the founders of Tantric Buddhism. The full name is King Kong. A native of Shizi Kingdom (now Sri Lanka). Together with Shan Wuwei and Diamond Wisdom, they are also known as the three great masters of Kaiyuan. At the age of 14, he came to China with Vajra Wisdom in the Kingdom of Java (now Java, Indonesia). In the eighth year of Tang Kaiyuan (720), he arrived in Luoyang. It is said that he was from the Western Regions. He followed his uncle to the mainland when he was young. He traveled to Wuwei and Taiyuan at the age of 10 and met King Kongzhi at the age of 15. In the twelfth year of Kaiyuan, he received the monk's ordination at Guangfu Temple in Luoyang. After that, he studied Chinese and Sanskrit scriptures and translated the scriptures with Vajra Zhi. After the death of Vajra Zhi, he was ordered to go to Tianzhu Longzhi to receive the Tantric Dharma.

When he first arrived in Nanhai (Guangzhou), he asked Liu Julin to visit him and teach him the Dharma. In the 29th year of Kaiyuan (the second year of Yishuo Tianbao), he was sent the certificate of credence by imperial edict and led 37 disciples including Samantabhadra Acharya to receive the initiation again and study Tantric Dharma for 3 years. Later, he traveled around India and returned to Chang'an in the fifth year of Tang Tianbao (746). He brought back 100 Sanskrit sutras, totaling 1,200 volumes, as well as the ceremonial book of Shiramika, the master's king, a folder of Mahaprajna Sutras and square objects. In the fifteenth year of Tianbao's reign, he was ordered to live in Daxingshan Temple in Chang'an to open an altar for initiation. After An Lushan captured Chang'an, he secretly sent people to inform Suzong of the news. In the second year of Zhide (757), after the Tang Dynasty returned to the capital, it was well received by Suzong. In the first year of Qianyuan (758), Emperor Suzong ordered all Buddhist folders brought by Xuanzang, Yijing, Bodhiliuzhi, Shanwuwei, Baosheng, etc. from the temples in Chang'an and Luoyang, as well as temples and villages in various counties Concentrate on the great temple, and there is no time for translators. There are 110 sutras and 143 volumes of sutras and esoteric scriptures translated. After his death, Emperor Daizong gave him the title of "Sikong", and his posthumous title was Zhengguangzhi Fukong Sanzangheshang. There are tens of thousands of disciples who receive Dharma, and there are also 2,000 disciples who receive bhikkhu ordination. The famous ones include Han Guang, Hui Chao (from Silla), Hui Guo, Hui Lang, Yuan Jiao and Jue Chao, known as the Six Philosophers. After Huiguo, he taught the teachings to the Japanese monk Kukai, who founded the Shingon sect after returning to Japan, which was later called Eastern Buddhism.