Yang Xuanzhi (Chinese: 楊衒之, Yang Hsüan-chih) was a Chinese writer and translator of MahayanaBuddhist texts into the Chinese language, during the 6th century, under the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Yang wrote "The Monasteries of Luoyang" (Chinese: 洛陽伽藍記; pinyin: Luòyáng Qiélánjì; Wade–Giles: Luo-yang Chia-lan ji)[1][2] in 547. This text relates the introduction of Buddhism to China around 70 CE:
The establishment of the Baima Temple (Temple of the White Horse) by Emperor Ming (AD 58–75) of the Han marked the introduction of Buddhism into China. The temple was located on the south side of the Imperial Drive, three leagues (li) outside the Xiyang Gate. The Emperor dreamt of the golden man sixteen Chinese feet tall, with the aureole of sun and moon radiating from his head and his neck. A "golden god", he was known as Buddha. The emperor dispatched envoys to the Western Regions in search of the god, and, as a result, acquired Buddhist scriptures and images. At the time, because the scriptures were carried into China on the backs of white horses, White Horse was adopted as the name of the temple. [3]
His book also contains the first known account of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, founder of Zen, whom he met in Luoyang around 520. He describes him as a man of Central Asian origin, who claims to be 150 years old and to have traveled extensively throughout Buddhist lands. He also wrote that Bodhidharma expressed praise for the beauty of the Buddhist temples in Luoyang, and that he chanted the name of the Buddha frequently:
Seeing the golden disks at the top of the monastery's stupa reflecting in the sun, the rays of light illuminating the surface of the clouds, the jewel-bells on the stupa blowing in the wind, the echoes reverberating beyond the heavens, Bodhidharma sang its praises. He exclaimed: "Truly this is the work of spirits." He said: "I am 150 years old, and I have passed through numerous countries. There is virtually no country I have not visited. But even in India there is nothing comparable to the pure beauty of this monastery. Even the distant Buddha realms lack this." He chanted homage and placed his palms together in salutation for days on end. ... Hsiu-Fan Monastery had a statue of a fierce thunderbolt bearer guarding the gate. Pigeons and doves would neither fly through the gate nor roost upon it. Bodhidharma said: "That catches its true character!"
— Yang Xuanzhi, The Monasteries of Luoyang, chapter 1
Notesedit
^Yang Xuanzhi. "Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang 洛陽伽藍記". Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBETA) (in Chinese). Taishō Tripiṭaka. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
^Yang, Xuanzhi. "Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang 洛陽伽藍記". NTI Buddhist Text Reader. Nan Tien Institute. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
^Theobald, Ulrich. "Luoyang qielan ji 洛陽伽藍記 (www.chinaknowledge.de)". www.chinaknowledge.de. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
"A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Lo-Yang" by Yang Xuanzhi（杨衒之)，translated by Yi-t'ung Wang（王伊同，Princeton University Press，Princeton，New Jersey，1983
"Memories of Lo-yang: Yang Hsuan-chih and the Lost Capital (493–534)" Jenner, William John Francis. New York: Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, 1981.
January 01, 1970
yang, xuanzhi, chinese, 楊衒之, yang, hsüan, chih, chinese, writer, translator, mahayana, buddhist, texts, into, chinese, language, during, century, under, northern, dynasty, yang, wrote, monasteries, luoyang, chinese, 洛陽伽藍記, pinyin, luòyáng, qiélánjì, wade, gile. Yang Xuanzhi Chinese 楊衒之 Yang Hsuan chih was a Chinese writer and translator of Mahayana Buddhist texts into the Chinese language during the 6th century under the Northern Wei Dynasty Yang wrote The Monasteries of Luoyang Chinese 洛陽伽藍記 pinyin Luoyang Qielanji Wade Giles Luo yang Chia lan ji 1 2 in 547 This text relates the introduction of Buddhism to China around 70 CE The establishment of the Baima Temple Temple of the White Horse by Emperor Ming AD 58 75 of the Han marked the introduction of Buddhism into China The temple was located on the south side of the Imperial Drive three leagues li outside the Xiyang Gate The Emperor dreamt of the golden man sixteen Chinese feet tall with the aureole of sun and moon radiating from his head and his neck A golden god he was known as Buddha The emperor dispatched envoys to the Western Regions in search of the god and as a result acquired Buddhist scriptures and images At the time because the scriptures were carried into China on the backs of white horses White Horse was adopted as the name of the temple 3 His book also contains the first known account of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma founder of Zen whom he met in Luoyang around 520 He describes him as a man of Central Asian origin who claims to be 150 years old and to have traveled extensively throughout Buddhist lands He also wrote that Bodhidharma expressed praise for the beauty of the Buddhist temples in Luoyang and that he chanted the name of the Buddha frequently Seeing the golden disks at the top of the monastery s stupa reflecting in the sun the rays of light illuminating the surface of the clouds the jewel bells on the stupa blowing in the wind the echoes reverberating beyond the heavens Bodhidharma sang its praises He exclaimed Truly this is the work of spirits He said I am 150 years old and I have passed through numerous countries There is virtually no country I have not visited But even in India there is nothing comparable to the pure beauty of this monastery Even the distant Buddha realms lack this He chanted homage and placed his palms together in salutation for days on end Hsiu Fan Monastery had a statue of a fierce thunderbolt bearer guarding the gate Pigeons and doves would neither fly through the gate nor roost upon it Bodhidharma said That catches its true character Yang Xuanzhi The Monasteries of Luoyang chapter 1Notes edit Yang Xuanzhi Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang 洛陽伽藍記 Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association CBETA in Chinese Taishō Tripiṭaka Retrieved 30 December 2014 Yang Xuanzhi Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang 洛陽伽藍記 NTI Buddhist Text Reader Nan Tien Institute Retrieved 30 December 2014 Theobald Ulrich Luoyang qielan ji 洛陽伽藍記 www chinaknowledge de www chinaknowledge de Retrieved 27 March 2024 References edit Zen A way of life by Christmas Humphreys ISBN 0 07 141981 0 A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Lo Yang by Yang Xuanzhi 杨衒之 translated by Yi t ung Wang 王伊同 Princeton University Press Princeton New Jersey 1983 Memories of Lo yang Yang Hsuan chih and the Lost Capital 493 534 Jenner William John Francis New York Clarendon Press Oxford University Press 1981 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yang Xuanzhi amp oldid 1215900613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
