Overview
This volume collects the biographies of three great Mahayana masters (Aśvagoṣha, Nagarjuna, and Vasubahndhu), 65 Chinese nuns from the fourth to sixth centuries, and an account of the life and travels in South Asia of the fifth-century Chinese monk Faxian.
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Taishō 2046
Volume 50
The Life of Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva
The Life of Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva is a biography of Aśvaghoṣa (ca. A.D. 100-160). Biographical references to Aśvaghoṣa are to be found in a number of other works too, but there are discrepancies in contents, dates and place-names. This text remains valuable as an important biography of the famous poet-scholar.
Source
Translated into the Chinese by Kumārajīva as Maming pusa zhuan (馬鳴菩薩傳). 1 fascicle.
Taishō 2047
Volume 50
The Life of Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva
The Life of Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva is a biography of Nāgārjuna (ca. A.D. 150-250), who is revered by all Buddhist schools in Japan as the “Founder of the Eight Schools.”
Source
Translated into the Chinese by Kumārajīva as Longshu pusa zhuan (龍樹菩薩傳). 1 fascicle.
Taishō 2049
Volume 50
Biography of Dharma Master Vasubandhu
This Biography of Dharma Master Vasubandhu catalogs the achievements of this scholar-monk, regarded as having laid the foundations of the Yogācāra School of Mahāyāna Buddhism. While Vasubandhu is celebrated in many works, this is the only independent biography.
Source
Translated into the Chinese by Paramārtha as Posoupandou fashi zhuan (婆藪槃豆法師傳).
Taishō 2063
Volume 50
Biographies of Buddhist Nuns
This text contains the biographies of 65 Chinese Buddhist nuns (Skt. bhikuṇī, Ch: biqiuni) who lived during the approximately 160-year period between the Eastern Chin and Liang Dynasties. According to the introduction, in former times many virtuous nuns were to be met with, but at the time of the Liang Dynasty when this work was compiled there were few nuns to be found rigorously observing the monastic precepts. Accordingly the author brought together various inscriptions, the recollections of elderly people and other relevant records into this single volume in order to provide examples for future nuns.
Source
Ch. Biqiuni zhuan (比丘尼傳), composed by Bao-chang. 4 fascicles.
Taishō 2085
Volume 51
The Journey of the Eminent Monk Faxian
The Journey of the Eminent Monk Faxian is a record by Faxian himself of his travels in India, and is also known as the Record of Buddhist Kingdoms and the Account of Travels in India Faxian set out on his journey in search of the Dharma in C.E. 399, and passing through Central Asia via the Southern Route, reached Northwest India, and moved on to Central India, visiting temples and shrines on the way. He then made pilgrimages to various sites associated with Śākyamuni, studied Buddhist scriptures and the monastic code, and made copies of numerous texts. From India he crossed over to Ceylon and then returned to China by sea, arriving in 412. This work is an account of his observations and experiences during this journey. It is a valuable source of information on Buddhism and Buddhist culture in India and Central Asia at the start of the fifth century, and is the oldest extant account by a Buddhist monk of his travels in India.
Source
Ch. Gaoseng Faxian zhuan (高僧法顯傳), recorded by Faxian. 1 fascicle.
Table of Contents
A Message on the Publication of the English Tripiṭaka NUMATA Yehan v
Editorial Foreword MAYEDA Sengaku vii
Publisher’s Foreword Francis H. Cook ix
Lives of Great Monks and Nuns
The Life of Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva
Translator’s Introduction Li Rongxi 5
Text of The Life of Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva 9
The Life of Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva
Translator’s Introduction Li Rongxi 17
Text of The Life of Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva 21
Biography of Dharma Master Vasubandhu
Translator’s Introduction Albert A. Dalia 31
Text of Biography of Dharma Master Vasubandhu 37
Biographies of Buddhist Nuns
Contents 57
Translator’s Introduction Li Rongxi 61
Text of Biographies of Buddhist Nuns 69
Fascicle One
Baochang’s Preface 69
1. Jingjian of Bamboo Grove Nunnery in the Jin Dynasty 71
2. An Lingshou of Jian-xian Nunnery in the Spurious Zhao Dynasty 73
3. Zhixian of the Western Nunnery in Si-zhou 75
4. Miaoxiang of North Mountain in Hong-nong 76
5. Kang Minggan of Jian-fu Nunnery 77
6. Tanbei of Northern Yong-an Nunnery 79
7. Huizhan of Jian-fu Nunnery 80
8. Sengji of Yan-xing Nunnery 80
9. Daoxing of the Eastern Nunnery in Lou-yang 81
10. Daorong of New Grove Nunnery 82
11. Lingzong of the Western Nunnery in Si-zhou 84
12. Zhi Miaoyin of Jian-jing Nunnery 85
13. Daoyi of Empress He’s Nunnery 86
Fascicle Two: The Song Dynasty
14. Huiguo of Jing-fu Nunnery 89
15. Fasheng of Jian-fu Nunnery 90
16. Huiyu of Niu-mu Nunnery in Jiang-ling 91
17. Daoqiong of Jian-fu Nunnery 92
18. Daoshou of Qi-huan Nunnery in Jiang-ling 93
19. Shi Xuanzao of Tai-xuan-tai Nunnery in Wu Prefecture 94
20. Shi Huiqiong of Nan-an Nunnery 95
21. Puzhao of Zhang-guo Nunnery in Nan-pi 96
22. Shi Huimu of the Nunnery of Zhu-ge Village in Liang Prefecture 97
23. Fasheng of the Southern Nunnery in Wu County 98
24. Sengduan of Yong-an Nunnery 99
25. Guangjing of the Middle Nunnery in Guang-ling 100
26. Shanmiao of Shu Prefecture 101
27. Sengguo of Guang-ling 103
28. Jingcheng of Bamboo Grove Nunnery in Dong-xiang in Shan-yang 104
29. Faxiang of Tai-xuan-tai Nunnery in Wu Prefecture 105
30. Yeshou of Eastern Qing-yuan Nunnery 106
31. Fabian of Jing-fu Nunnery 108
32. Daozong of San-ceng Nunnery in Jiang-ling 109
33. Huijun of Zhu-yuan Nunnery 110
34. Baoxian of Pu-xian Nunnery 110
35. Fajing of Pu-xian Nunnery 112
36. Huiyao of Yong-kang Nunnery in Shu Prefecture 113
Fascicle Three: The Qi Dynasty
37. Fayuan of Zeng-cheng in Dong-guan 115
38. Tanche of Southern Yong-an Nunnery 116
39. Sengjing of Chong-sheng Nunnery 117
40. Sengmeng of Qi-ming Nunnery in Yan-guan 118
41. Miaozhi of Hua-yan Nunnery 120
42. Zhisheng of Jian-fu Nunnery 121
43. Senggai of Chan-ji Nunnery 123
44. Faquan of Eastern Qing-yuan Nunnery 125
45. Jinghui of Pu-xian Nunnery 126
46. Tanjian of Fa-yin Nunnery 126
47. Jinggui of Fa-yin Nunnery 127
48. Huixu of Ji-shan Nunnery 128
49. Chaoming of Qi-ming Nunnery in Qian-tang 131
50. Tangyong of Fa-yin Nunnery 132
51. Dele of Qi-xing Nunnery in Shan County 132
Fascicle Four: The Liang Dynasty
52. Jingxiu of Chan-lin Nunnery 135
53. Sengnian of Chan-lin Nunnery 139
54. Tanhui of Chang-le Nunnery in Cheng-du 140
55. Feng of Lang-zhong Nunnery in the Illegal Capital of Gao-chang 143
56. Huisheng of Xian-ju Nunnery of the Liang Dynasty 145
57. Jingxian of Eastern Qing-yuan Nunnery 145
58. Jingyuan of Zhu-yuan Nunnery 146
59. Jingxing of Zhu-yuan Nunnery 147
60. Shi Lingyu of Southern Jin-ling Nunnery 148
61. Sengshu of Xian-ju Nunnery 149
62. Miaoyi of Western Qing-yuan Nunnery 151
63. Shi Huihui of Le-an Nunnery 151
64. Shi Daogui of Di-shan Nunnery 152
65. Shi Faxuan of Zhao-ming Nunnery in Shan-yin 153
The Journey of the Eminent Monk Faxian
Translator’s Introduction Li Rongxi 157
Text of The Journey of the Eminent Monk Faxian 163
Glossary 215
Bibliography 223
Index 225
A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tripiṭaka (First Series)