The Early Dharma Text Translators

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The Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.)

The Period of Three Kingdoms (220-280 A.D.)

The Jin Dynasty (285-420)

Kashyapamtanga ~25 A.D.

came from India
regarded as the first translator for Buddhist sutras in China
translated 5 sutras, but only 1 extant -- "Sutra of Forty-two Chapters"

Dharmaraksha ~25 A.D.

came from India to China and worked with Kashyapamatanga in the translation of sutras.

An Shih-kao ~170 A.D.

It was custom in China to take the name of one's birthplace as a surname. "An" was actually not the surname of Shih-kao It simply meant that Shih-kao came from the country called An-hsi
a prince of Parthia retreated into religion.
went to China in the Han Dynasty; translated 35 Buddhist scriptures in 41 fascicles in 20 plus years.
20 of them are still extant and most of them are Hinayana Buddhist

Lokakshema 147-185 A.D.

born in Kushan
went to China in the Han Dynasty; translated 12 scriptures in 27 fascicles in 40 years.
9 scriptures in 20 fascicles are still extant and most of them are Mahayana Buddhist texts such as
- Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra i.e. Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in Eight Thousand Lines, 10 fascicles in 179 .
- Pratyutapnna Buddha Sammukhavasthita Samadhi Sutra - 3 fascicles

Chu Shih-hsing ~200 A.D.

went to Khotan and requested the King for the original text of Mahayana sutras.
translated the sutras in 291 A.D.

Fa-shi

came from Central India to China in the Period of Three Kingdoms.
proficient in both Hinayana and Mahayana, also Vinaya
the translation of Vinaya to commence the monastic rules and precepts of Sangha in China.

Samghavarman

came from Samarkand or Soghdiana to China in the Period of Three Kingdoms.
India monk believed to be of Tibetan descent.
translation works included
- Larger Sukhavativyuha, The Sutra of Infinite Life 2 fascicles, in 252 .

Tan-ti

came from An-Shih to China during the Period of Three Kingdoms
translated mainly the Vinaya.

Translators in the Period of Disunity (317-589 A.D.)

Chih-chien ~200 A.D.

Moved from Kushan to China during Dong-wu Dynasty in the Period of Disunity
translated 88 scriptures for both Hinayana and Mahayana, including
Atthakavagga, i.e. Meaningful Chapters 2 fascicles in 223-253 .
Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, i.e. Vimalakirti Sutra 2 fascicles between 223 and 253 A.D.
Matangi Sutra 2 fascicles

Sanghapala / Kang Seng-hui ~250

the eldest son of the Prime Minister of Soghdiana/Samarkand
immigrated to China during Dong-wu Dynasty in the Period of Disunity
translated scriptures, included Shatparamita Sangraha Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Collection of the Practices of the Six Perfections 8 fascicles between 251-280.

Dharmaraksha / Chu Fa-hu 200-300 A.D.

from India to China in the Period of Disunity
ordained in 8 years old, very talented in reading and writing, proficient in 36 languages when he travelled
known as Tun-huang Bodhisattva
with a group of 12 translators, he translated 175 scriptures of 354 fascicles, including:
- Avatamsaka Sutra
- Agama Sutra
- Vaipulya Sutras
- Lotus Sutras
- Nirvana Sutra
- Panchavimshati Sahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra 10 fascicles in 286 .
- Lalitavistara, Detailed Narration of the Sport of the Buddha 8 fascicles in 308
- Ullambana Sutra 1 fascicle.

Gautama Sanghadeva ~300 A.D.

from Kabul
translated 7 scriptures during 383-398 A.D. including
- Madhyama-agama . Middle Length Sayings 60 fascicles in 397-398 .
- Ekottara-agama i.e. Gradual Sayings 51 fascicles 397-398 .
- Treatise of the Heart of Abhidharma

Buddhabhadra 394-468 .

from Central India
invited by Master Hui-yen to stay at Mount Lu to translate sutras
translated 13 scriptures of 125 fascicles including
- Avatamsaka Sutra in 60 fascicles in 418-421 A.D.
- Mahasanghika Vinaya in 40 fascicles, in 416-418 A.D. jointly with Fa-Hsien
- Yogacarabhum Sutra, i.e. Sutra on the Stages of Yoga Practice (also known as 2 fascicles in 398-421 A.D.
- Mahaparinirvana-suta, i.e. Sutra of the Great Decease , 6 fascicles in 416-418 jointly with Fa-hsien
- Tathagatagarbha Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Tathagata Treasury 1 fascicle in 420 A.D.

Dharmanandi

Madhyama-agama, i.e. Middle Length Sayings in 59 fascicles
Ekottara-agama, i.e. Gradual Sayingsin 50 fascicles
the above translated sutras are not extant.

Buddhayashas

teacher/advisor of Kumarajiva in Buddhism
welcomed by the Emperor Yao Hsing of Later Chin Dynasty (when arrived in Chang-an, China)
translation works including
- Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, i.e. Four-Category Vinaya 60 fascicles in 410-412 A.D.
- Dirgha-agama i.e. Long Sayings 22 fascicles in 412-413 A.D.; jointly with Chu Fo-nien

Fa Hsien ~422 A.D.

regarded as the first important Chinese pilgrim
left China to India in 399 A.D. seeking the original text of Vinaya and other Buddhist scriptures
returned to China after 15 years bringing many valuable Buddhist scriptures for both Hinayana and Mahayana
he wrote "Records of the Buddhist Kingdoms" , a documentary to record his travels over 30 countries in India, Sri Lanka, etc.
translation works including
- Mahaparinirvana Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Great Decease 6 fascicles in 416-418 A.D., jointly with Buddhabhdra
- Mahasanghika Vinaya, i.e. Vinaya of the Mahasanghika School 40 fascicles in 416-418 A.D., together with Buddhabhadra in translation.

Chu Fo-nein

he was the companion of Buddhayashas in translation works
there were 12 scriptures in 74 fascicles in his own translation works, including
- Dirgha-agama, i.e. Long Sayings 22 fascicles in 412-413 A.D., jointly with Buddhayashas

Dharmakshema

385-433 A.D.
from Central India to China during Bei-liang Dynasty during the Period of Disunity
translated 19 scriptures in 131 fascicles including
- Mahaparinirvana Sutra i.e. Sutra of the Great Decease 40 fascicles in 414-421 A.D., usually taken as the northern version.
- Mahasamnipata Sutra, i.e. Great Collection of Sutras60 fascicles in 414-426 A.D.
- Buddhacarita 5 fascicles
- Bodhisattva Bhumi, i.e. Sutra of a Bodhisattva's Spiritual States 10 fascicles between 414 and 426 A.D.
- Suvanapabhasa Sutra, i.e. Golden Light Sutra 4 fascicles in 414-426 A.D.
- Upasakasila Sutra 7 fascicles.

Gunabhadra 394-468 A.D.

moved from Ceylon to China during the Period of Disunity.
Translated 52 scriptures in 134 fascicles including:
- Samyukta-agama, i.e. Kindred Saying 50 fascicles in 435-443 A.D.
- Lankaratara Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Appearance of the Good Doctrine in (Sri) Lanka 4 fascicles in 443 A.D.
- Samdhinirmochana Sutra, i.e. Sutra of the Continuation Stream of Emancipation 1 fascicle in 420 A.D.
- Shrimaladevi Simhanada Sutra, i.e. Queen of Shrimala Sutra (the Lion's Roar of Queen Shrimala) 1 fascicle in 436 A.D.

Buddhajiva ~423 A.D.

specialized in Vinaya
Mahishasaka Vinaya, i.e. Five-category Vinaya 30 fascicles

Paramartha 499-569 A.D.

from Western India to Southern China during the Period of Disunity
translated over 50 scriptures in over 120 fascicles including:
- Suvarnaprabhasa Sutra i.e. Golden Light Sutra 7 fascicles in 552 A.D.
- Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra: Diamond Sutra 1 fascicle in 558-559 A.D.
- Mahayana Shraddhotpada Shastra, i.e. Treatise on the Awaking of Faith in Mahayana 1 fascicle in 553 A.D.
- Mahayanasamgraha i.e. Comprehensive Treatise on Mahayana Buddhism 3 fascicles in 563 A.D.
- Treatise on the Buddha's nature 4 fascicle in 557-569 A.D.
- Saptadasha Bhumika Shastra, i.e. Treatise on the Seventeen Stages of Spiritual Development 5 fascicles
- Abhidharama Kosha Shastra i.e. Abhidharma Storehouse Treatise
- Samdhinirmochana Sutra i.e. Sutra of Emancipation between 557-589 A.D.
- Saddharmapundarikopadesa 2 fascicles.
- Sutra on Neither Increasing nor Deceasing 1 fascicle in 525

Source

sites.google.com/site/blinddharmainsamsara