歷代三寶紀 8.71

8.71

The above thirteen works, totaling eighty-six fascicles. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin, the śramaṇa Zhu Fo Nian of Liangzhou had a lucid and perceptive intellect and in his youth loved traveling abroad. His family had lived in Xihe for generations, and he was thoroughly versed in both Chinese and foreign languages. In the early Jianyuan era of Fu Jian of the Former Qin, he came to Chang'an. At that time, Zhao Zheng, Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat, invited Saṅghabhadra, Dharmanandin, and others to produce numerous sūtras and treatises. None of the renowned monks of the era could translate them, so everyone recommended Fo Nian. Combining both languages to make the text clear showed Fo Nian's translating merit. Since the Han era, after Dao'an, Shigao, and Zhi Qian, none surpassed Fo Nian. Therefore, through both the Fu and Yao eras, he was the model of translators. Renowned monks of the Guanzhong region all praised him together. Afterward, he himself produced the works listed above. The Gaoseng zhuan records only five works; the other eight works are attested in various catalogs, and thus are listed in full here.