出三藏記集 13.24

13.24

Dharmanandin was a man of Tukhāra. Leaving home in his childhood, his intelligence was precociously formed. He studied and recited the scriptures, establishing his achievements through undivided concentration. Widely perusing the tripiṭaka, he recited the Ekottarika-āgama and Madhyama-āgama from memory; his extensive knowledge and broad learning were such that there was nothing in which he was not practiced. For this reason, all near and far within his realm deferred to and admired him. In his youth, he observed the regions and traveled through various countries, always maintaining that the essence of propagating the Dharma lay in proclaiming what had not yet been heard. Therefore, braving the flowing sands from afar and carrying treasures, he traveled eastward. In the twentieth year of Fu Jian's Jianyuan era, he arrived at Chang'an. Prior to this, the four Āgamas were missing from among the various scriptures in the central lands. Fu Jian's attendant minister and Grand Protector of Wuwei, Zhao Zheng, deeply devoted his aspiration to the treasury of the Dharma, and thus together with Master Dao'an requested the translation of the scriptures. At that time, Murong Chong had already rebelled and raised troops to attack Fu Jian, throwing the Guanzhong region into turmoil. Within the city of Chang'an, Zhao Zheng assembled doctrinal monks to copy out and translate the two scriptures. Fonian translated orally, and Huisong served as scribal recorder. From summer to spring, spanning two years, it was finally completed. The two complete Āgamas comprised a total of one hundred fascicles. From the time the scriptures flowed into the Eastern Xia down to the Fu era, in terms of sheer number of fascicles, this was the most extensive. Nandin's learning was superior and his reputation for the Dao flourished. Fu Jian repeatedly invited him with ceremony and provided generous offerings. He remained in Qin for many years; later, his end was unknown. Zhu Fonian was a man of Liangzhou. His aspirations and conduct were grand and noble, and his eloquence and literary talent were rich. Widely read and extensively informed, he was thoroughly acquainted with local customs. His family had resided in Hexi for generations, and he was fluent in regional dialects; thus, he could interpret back and forth between barbarian and Chinese tongues, proclaiming the Dharma in the Guan and Wei regions. In the two dynasties of Fu and Yao, he constantly took part in transmitting the scriptures. That the two Āgamas were fully produced was entirely due to his merit.