佛祖歷代通載 1.2

1.2

浮圖氏之論世。動以大劫小劫為言。中國文字未通。蓋不可知也。摩騰竺法蘭至漢而後。釋迦佛之生滅。可以逆推其歲年。自是中國之人。得以華言記之。自天竺及旁近諸國東來者。莫盛於西晉。至于姚秦石趙等國。其人則鳩摩羅什佛圖澄那連耶舍曇無讖諸師。而東土卓絕奇偉之士。生肇融叡等相為羽翼。翻譯經義盡為華言。而佛理之精無不洞究。先覺之士至有逆知。其至理之未至者。佛學之行莫博於此時矣。彌天道安至於遠公辟地東南佛陀耶舍遠相從游而辟世。君子相依於離亂之世。乃若寶公雙林諸公起而說法。而佛學大盛於東南矣。若夫智者弘法華於天台。三藏開般若於唐初。清涼廣華嚴於五臺。密公說圓覺於草堂。宣公嚴律教於南山。金剛啟祕密於天寶。大小三乘唯識等論。專門名家豪分縷析。汗牛充棟。學者千百。有皓首而不能窮極者焉。達磨之來則有五傳其衣。五宗斯立。同源異派自梁歷宋。謂之傳法正宗。我

When the Buddhists discuss the world, they invariably speak in terms of mahākalpas and antarakalpas. Before the Chinese script could convey this, it was completely unknowable. After Kāśyapa Mātaṅga and Dharmaratna arrived during the Han dynasty, the birth and extinction of the Buddha Śākyamuni could be calculated retroactively by year. From that point on, people of China were able to record it in Chinese. Among those coming eastward from Tianzhu and adjacent kingdoms, none were more flourishing than during the Western Jin down to such kingdoms as Yao Qin and the Shi Zhao. As for these persons, there were masters such as Kumārajīva, Fotudeng, Narendrayaśas, and Dharmakṣema; while outstanding and wondrous scholars of the eastern land, such as Dao-sheng, Seng-zhao, Dao-rong, and Seng-rui, served as their wings. They translated scripture meanings entirely into Chinese, thoroughly probing the subtleties of Buddhist doctrine without omission. There were even foresighted scholars who knew retroactively that the ultimate principle had not yet been fully reached. The practice of Buddhist studies was never more extensive than during this time. There were Dao'an, who matched Heaven, and Master Huiyuan, who opened up territories in the southeast, with Buddhayaśas following him from afar in escaping the world. Worthy gentlemen relied on one another during chaotic ages. Then masters such as Baozhi and Shuanglin Fu arose to expound the Dharma, and Buddhist studies flourished greatly in the southeast. Then the Wise One [Zhiyi] promoted the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka at Tiantai; the Tripiṭaka Master [Xuanzang] opened up prajñā at the beginning of the Tang; Qingliang Chengguan expanded the Avataṃsaka at Wutai Shan; Master Guifeng Zongmi expounded the Complete Enlightenment at Caotang; Master Daoxuan made rigorous the vinaya teachings at Nanshan; and Master Vajrabodhi inaugurated the Esoteric teachings during the Tianbao era. Treatises on the greater and lesser triyāna, vijñapti-mātra, and the like were analyzed with minute precision by specialized masters; their volumes caused oxen to sweat and filled buildings to the rafters. Among hundreds and thousands of scholars, there were those who grew white-haired without reaching the very depths. When Bodhidharma arrived, his robe was transmitted five times, and the Five Houses were thereupon established. Deriving from the same source into different branches, from the Liang through the Song, this was called the correct lineage of transmission of the Dharma. Under our