出三藏記集 15.12

15.12

Zhu Fonian was a native of Liangzhou. He went forth from home at an early age. His aspirations and practice were firm and refined; externally gentle and internally luminous, he possessed penetrating and quick discernment. He chanted and practiced the various sūtras, and also broadly touched upon non-Buddhist learning; he was particularly clear and practiced in the lexicographical glosses of the Cang [Jie pian] and the [Er]ya. In his youth he was fond of traveling, and thoroughly understood local customs. His family had resided in Xihe for generations, and he had a thorough understanding of regional dialects; of Chinese and barbarian pronunciations and meanings, there was none he did not comprehend. Therefore, although the company of doctrinal scholars was lacking [in him], his renown for extensive learning was prominent. During the counterfeit Jianyuan era of Fu Jian, the foreign śramaṇas Saṃghabhadra and Dharmanandin entered Chang'an. Fu Jian's Palace Secretariat Gentleman Zhao Zheng invited Saṃghabhadra to produce the Indic manuscript of the Vasumitra-śāstra. At that time, none among the famous and virtuous could translate it, and the assembly unanimously recommended Fonian. Thereupon, Saṃghabhadra held the Fan text, while Fonian translated between the barbarian and Chinese [tongues]; determining doubtful points, the pronunciations and characters then became clear. Dharmanandin also produced the Scripture on the Causes and Conditions of Prince Fayid's Ruined Eyes; Fonian proclaimed the translation and also wrote a preface for the sūtra. In the twentieth year of the Jianyuan era, Zheng again invited Dharmanandin to produce the Ekottarika-āgama and the Madhyama-āgama. Doctrinal śramaṇas were gathered within the city of Chang'an to invite Fonian to translate them. Explaining, analyzing, researching, and verifying, it was completed after two years. That the two Āgamas were brilliantly illuminated was through the effort of Fonian. At the beginning of the Hongshi era of Yao Xing, scriptural studies flourished greatly. Fonian successively produced the Bodhisattva-mālā, the Daśabhūmika-saṃyojana-chedana, the Udāna, the Garbha-sūtra, and the Antarābhava-sūtra. Across the two dynasties of Fu and Yao, he was the chief among translators. From the time of An Shigao and Zhi Qian onward, none surpassed Fonian. The monastic assembly of the Guanzhong region all praised him. Later he died in Chang'an. Near and far, lay and monastic, all lamented and mourned him.