Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c8.s1.9

v1.c8.s1.9

The translation of Chinese Buddhist scripture flourished during the period from 5ᵗʰ and 6ᵗʰ centuries to the early 7ᵗʰ century. Two points need to be mentioned in the translation work of this period. The first is the theoretical issue, namely translation theory put forward by Yan Cong. The second is a practical issue, namely, the organisational system and translation procedure of government-run translation organisation of that time. Both issues were of great importance because they served as preludes to the climax in the translation of scriptures during the Tang Dynasty. Yan Cong’s common surname was Li and was from Zhao County. He came to Beijing in the 12ᵗʰ year of Kai-huang Period (592 CE). In the second year of Ren-shou Period (602 CE), he accepted the emperor’s command to compile Catalogue of Scriptures.