高僧傳 1.57

1.57

Zhu Fonian was a native of Liangzhou. He left home in his youth; his resolve and practice were pure and firm, he was outwardly gentle and inwardly luminous, and he possessed perceptive discernment. He recited and studied various scriptures and dabbled in non-Buddhist texts, being particularly knowledgeable in the glosses and exegeses of the *Cang Jie pian* and the *Erya*. In his youth he liked to travel abroad, fully observing local customs. His family had resided in Xihe for generations, so he was thoroughly versed in regional vernaculars; he understood the sounds and meanings of both Chinese and barbarians alike. Therefore, although his reputation for doctrinal study was lacking, his renown for broad learning was very celebrated.