Buddhist Monks who Journeyed from Funan to China for Scripture Translation A Study Based on the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks
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Abstract
The Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks (Xu Gaoseng Zhuan) documents the journeys of four monks who traveled from Funan to China for scripture translation. Among them, three were natives of Funan—Saṅghapāla, Mandra, and Subhūti—while one, Paramārtha, hailed from India. These monks lived in China during the 6th Century, dedicating themselves to the translation of Buddhist scriptures. This article offers an overview of the evidence supporting the presence of Buddhism in Funan and its surrounding regions from earlier periods up to the 6th Century, drawing upon archaeological discoveries and Chinese historical accounts. It illustrates that Buddhism had been thriving in the region since the 4th Century CE.
Furthermore, the article paraphrases the records concerning these four monks as documented in the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks and investigates their translation efforts. A comparison between the accounts in the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks and the scriptures preserved in the Taishō Tripiṭaka (Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō) reveals that some of the works translated by these monks have been lost over time. However, 32 scriptures translated by Paramārtha have survived to this day, surpassing those attributed to the other three translators. Among the remaining monks from Funan, Saṅghapāla is credited with the highest number of surviving translations, totaling 11 scriptures. This study further emphasizes the close and enduring relationship between Funan and China during the 6th Century.
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