Biography of Śiksānanda

 宋高僧傳捲第二

Song Biographies of Eminent Monks, Scroll 2

宋左街天壽寺通慧大師賜紫沙門贊寧等奉　敕撰

Compiled by Master Tong Hui and Master Ci Zi of Tian Shou Temple in the Song Dynasty in accordance with an Imperial edict

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唐洛陽大遍空寺實叉難陀傳

Biography of Śiksānanda, Da Bian Kong Temple, Luoyang, Tang Dynasty

釋實叉難陀。一雲施乞叉難陀。華言學喜。蔥嶺北于闐人也。智度恢曠風格不群。善大小乘旁通異學。天后明揚佛日崇重大乘。以華嚴舊經處會未備。遠聞于闐有斯梵本。發使求訪並請譯人。叉與經夾同臻帝闕。以證聖元年乙未。於東都大內大遍空寺翻譯。天后親臨法座煥發序文。自運仙毫首題名品。南印度沙門菩提流志沙門義淨同宣梵本。後付沙門復禮法藏等。於佛授記寺譯成八十卷。聖曆二年功畢。

The translator Śiksānanda was also known as Shī Qǐ Chā Nán Tuó. He was fond of studying Chinese language. He came from Khotan on the northern side of the Pamirs. There are few people with his vast knowledge and particular style. He liked both Mahayana and Theravada and was equally well conversed in both. However, the empress publically promoted and more highly esteemed Mahayana. It was understood that the old version of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra was not adequate. It was heard that there was a Sanskrit version in far away in Khotan. So an emisary was sent to inquire about this. The sūtra reached the imperial gate on the first year of the [Empress Wu Ze Tian's] Zheng Sheng reign [695]. It was translated at Da Bian Kong Temple in Luoyang. The empress wrote the preface in person, which she signed using the immortal brush. The sūtra was translated [by Śiksānanda] together with Yi Jing and Bodhiruci, from Southern India. Afterwards the work was given to Fa Zang [lived 643—712 CE]. The translation was completed at Vyakarana Temple in a total of 80 scrolls in the second year of the Sheng Li reign [699].

至久視庚子駕幸潁川三陽宮诏叉譯大乘入楞伽經。天后復製序焉。又於京師清禪寺及東都佛授記寺。譯文殊授記等經。前後總出一十九部沙門波崙玄軌等筆受。沙門復禮等綴文。沙門法寶恒景等證義。太子中舍賈膺福監護。

In the Jiu Shi reign the San Yang Palace at the Ying River in Jia Xing received an imperial order to translate the Lankavatara Sūtra. The empress once again wrote the preface at the capital [Chang'an] at Qing Chan Temple and once again at Vyakarana Temple in Luoyang. The Manjusri and Vyakarana sutras were also translated. Nineteen monks, including Bo Lun and Xuan Gui, were arranged to do the work. After they gracefully completed the texts monks Fa Bao and Heng Jing proof read them. Crown Prince Zhong [舍賈膺???] virtuously acted as guardian.

長安四年。叉以母氏衰老思歸慰覲。錶書再上方俞敕禦史霍嗣光送至 于闐。暨和帝龍興有敕再徵。景龍二年達於京輦。帝屈萬乘之尊。親迎於開遠門外。傾都緇侶備幡幢導引。仍飾青象令乘之入城。敕於大薦福寺安置。未遑翻譯。

In the fourth year of the Chang'an reign [705] because of his mother's weak and feeble condition he sought permission from the empress to ask for leave to return to his place of birth. The records indicate [霍嗣光 ???] that Śiksānanda was again sent for in Khotan by the empress. The [龍興??] imperial orders required him to make the long journey back [to Chang'an]. In the second year of the Jing Long reign [of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, 709] an imperial carraige was sent for him from the capital [Chang'an]. The emperor bowed many times in respect to him when he personally went to greet Śiksānanda outside the Kai Yuan City Gate. A number of monks in the capital prepared a banner [導引 ??] to decorate the elephant that he rode into the city. Imperial orders established a residence for him at Jian Fu Temple for him to perform translation activities.

遘疾彌留以景雲元年十月十二日。右脅累足而終。春秋五十九歲。有诏聽依外國法葬。十一月十二日於開遠門外古然燈臺焚之。薪盡火滅其舌猶存。十二月二十三日。門人悲智敕使哥舒道元。送其餘骸及斯靈舌還歸于闐。起塔供養。後人復於茶毘之所起七層塔。土俗號為華嚴三藏塔焉。

He unexpected fell seriously ill on the 12th day of the 10th month in the first year of the Jing Yun reign [of Emperor Ruizong of Tang, 711]. (右脅累足而終 ???). In the end he died at the age of 59 years. The imperial order called for a foreign style Buddhist funeral service. His body was cremated on the 12th day of the 11th month outside the Kai Yuan City Gate on the Dipankara Buddha Platform. When the fuel was exhausted only his tongue was remaining. On the 23rd day of the 12 month his Dhárma brothers learned that their brother's [敕使哥舒道元 ???] remains would be sent back to Khotan by imperial order. A seven stoy pagoda was built as an offering so later generations could [茶毘??]. The common name for the pagoda is the Avatamsaka Sūtra Tripiṭaka Pagoda.