歷代三寶紀 4.5

4.5

The one scripture in one fascicle above was translated during the reign of Emperor Ming by Kāśyapa Mātanga, a Brahmin śramaṇa from Central Tianzhu. Some call him Zhu Shemoteng, or simply Shemoteng; the various catalogues differ, and it is not clear which is correct. Since it is not yet definitely known which is the surname and which the personal name, and earlier [catalogues] did not translate [the name's meaning], it is set forth here in full. Mātanga was bright and perceptive from youth and possessed a refined presence. Broadly learned and widely heard, he was particularly clear on the sūtras and Vinaya. His intellectual power was fine and penetrating, exploring the subtle and profound; his exposition of texts and analysis of principles consistently offered new interpretations, though students at that time had not yet attached themselves to him. The Dharma master traveled through Tianzhu. To the northwest there was a small kingdom that revered him. Soon, a neighboring country raised troops and warfare did not cease; yet whenever they were about to cross the border, there was always an impediment. Suspecting some supernatural art, they secretly sent a spy to observe. The scout returned and reported: "The lord and ministers of that kingdom expound and study Mahāyāna scriptures such as the Suvarṇaprabhāsa; the sūtra states that wherever this Dharma is preached, the earth spirits and kings protect it." Consequently, the neighboring country sued for peace and sought the Dharma to propagate the Mahāyāna. From then on, it crossed southwards and gradually spread here. In the Yongping era, accompanying Cai Yin, he arrived from Luoyang and translated this sūtra at the White Horse Monastery. Arranged according to the catalogues, this is the very ancestor of scriptures in the land of Han. An older catalogue states: "It was originally an extract from foreign scriptures, originating from a larger work, excerpting essentials to guide the vulgar, resembling the eighteen chapters of the Classic of Filial Piety." Dao'an's catalogue does not list it. The Old Catalogue, Zhu Shixing's Han Catalogue, and Sengyou's Chu sanzang ji ji all record it. However, because the Great Dharma had just been transmitted and people had not yet turned to it in faith, Mātanga kept his profound understanding hidden and did not translate further. Later he died in Luoyang. The full details are recorded in Zhu Shixing's Han Catalogue, the Gaoseng zhuan, the Mingseng zhuan, and various miscellaneous records. Baochang also says that it was translated by Zhu Falan; this is perhaps based on his having arrived at the same time as She Moteng.