Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-1, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, https://www.onlinejournal.in

The Life and Works of Khuong Tang Hoi

Bui My Diem Loan Researcher, Department of , Nava , Nalanda, Bihar, India

Abstract: entered in a small the writer would like to introduce about early country and became a of the in the middle of second nation. Back to its history in the third century century A.D. through the life and works of B.C., when numerous Buddhist missionaries Khuong Tang Hoi. were sent abroad by the Emperor Asoka to propagate Buddha’s Teachings in distant I. The Life of Khuong Tang Hoi lands such as West and Central Asia, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, (200?-280AD): Indonesia, and ‘Giao Chau’ (modern Bac Khuong Tang Hoi (Chinese simplified: Ninh Province, ). As the 康 僧 会 , : Kang Seng Hui) was a harmony religion, Buddhism has companied earliest known master of with Vietnamese history that spans nearly Vietnam, a first Buddhist propagator in 2000 years in existence. southern in 247 C.E., and a translator In the first and second centuries A.D., during the Three Kingdom period of ancient Giao Chau (the ancient name of the region China. He was born and trained in Giao Chi that encompassed present day - Bac Ninh, (Jiao-zhi: 交趾), modern-day Bac Ninh province of Northern Vietnam) was mostly province in Northern Vietnam, 300 years influenced by Indian culture. At that time, before the well-known Indian master Giao Chau was also a province under Han went to China. He is reversed Dynasty-Chinese domination. From India via as the first patriarch of the Vietnamese sea trade routes, the Buddhist scholars and meditation school. Studying his life and the monks continued to reach Giao Chau from works, we can understand the root of India, travelling along with traders. Khuong Buddhism in Vietnam and Southern China. Tang Hoi’s father was a Sogdian merchant who emigrated from North India and stayed The life and works of Khuong Tang in Giao Chau. Thus, historical evidences Hoi that we know from the two oldest indicate that Indian brought Buddhism to biographies. One is Seng You‟s Chu san zang Vietnam before it arrived from China. In this ji (出三藏记) (CBETA 2145, p.96a29-97a17), presentation, the writer would like to and the other is Hui Hao‟s Gao seng zhuan introduce the history of in ( 高僧傳) (CBETA 2059, p.325a13-326b13). Vietnam in the middle of second century A.D. Seng You wrote, „Khuong Tang Hoi’s through the life and works of Khuong Tang ancestor was Sogdian which had immigrated Hoi. to India for long time. His father was a merchant who moved to Giao Chau (Jiao- Key word: Missionary, Sutta, the zhou) for his business. Khuong Tang Hoi was Order, relic. over 10 years old, his parents passed away. After ordination, he studied very hard. He is well-mannered, knowledgeable in Confucism, Introduction well-known Tipitaka, good at astronomy, has Buddhism entered in a small country good speech and writing skills.‟ Vietnam and became a religion of the nation. Companion with the history of Vietnamese Hui Hao‟s copy is, actually, a copy country, Buddhism spans harmony nearly of Seng You‟s version with two additions. 2000 years in existence. This is the addition of ‟s biography Due to geographical position between at the beginning and the recording of the India and China, Vietnam has been influenced influence of Khuong Tang Hoi on Su Jun and immersed by both ancient civilizations. Sun Chuo at the end. The addition of Zhi Historical evidences indicate that Indian Qian‟s enormous stems from the history of brought Buddhism to Vietnam before it . However, Zhi Qian was a arrived from China. Therefore, in this work, layman, and Gao seng zhuan itself is a record

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-1, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, https://www.onlinejournal.in on The High Monk, so that it should not able was not only expert in Buddhism, to set a separated item as Seng You wrote in , and , but also in Chu san zang ji about Zhi Qian (CBETA 2145 astrology, geography. p.97b13-c18). About the addition of Su Jun In Luy Lau，metropolis of Giao Chau, and Sun Chuo, this indicates that Hui Hao has Khuong Tang Hoi established temples and consulted many other records, which Seng trained disciples. He translated the at You may have ignored. Dien Ung temple, or Phap Van (present-day Dau temple). In the Preface of Gao seng zhuan In the tenth year of Chi-wu 赤乌 era (High Monks Stories), and also in two letters (247 CE), Khuong Tang Hoi went to Jian-ye about conversation between Wang Man Ying （建業）, the Dong Wu capital in Southern and Hui Hao (CBETA 2059, p.418b35- China. In the beginning, he received 423a10), Hui Hao informed that his works threatening treatment from the ruler. Tang regarding to more than ten historians‟ works Hoi preached to Wu 吴孙权- King on Jin, Zhao, Yan, Liang dynasties. They are of Dong Wu on Karma and by such as: Fa Ji, Fa An, Seng Bao, Fa Jin, Seng causing the appearance of miraculous relic of Yu, Seng You, Zhou Jun Tai, Wang Jin, Shao the Buddha. As we know when Emperor Jing Ling Wang, etc… Asoka (269-232 BC) converted to Buddhism, he erected numerous throughout India In addition to above two and kept small portions of relics division biographies, the later books namely Fa Jing‟s from the original eight Stupas that contained Zhong jing mu lu, Fei Zhang Fang‟s Li da san the Buddha‟s relics apparently after his bao ji, Dao Xuan‟s Da tang nei dian lu, Zhi cremation (Karel Weimar,2008). The miracle Sheng‟s Kai kuan shi jiao lu, etc… more or story of obtaining relic stresses the early less mentioned about Khuong Tang Hoi. transmission of the or pagoda worship Since they mainly summarized on above two in China. The fact that magical power was books, they did not add anything new to the regarded as a quite important quality of the study of the life and works of Khuong Tang Buddhist monks (Mariko Namba Walter, Hoi. Therefore, they are only used as 2009). references when needed. To conduct the study, On completion of Khuong Tang Hoi‟s we should take the two works Chu san zang ji twenty-one days sincere prayer, the miracle of Seng You and Gao seng zhuan of Hui Hao of the appearance of the Buddha‟s five-colour as the basis. relic helped him to win the trust of Wu Sun Quan 吴孙权. The King admired and In the first and second centuries AD, respected Khuong Tang Hoi and Buddhism by Giao Chau (the ancient name of the region building the first temple namely Jian Chu si that encompassed present day - Bac Ninh, 建初寺 in Jianye for Khuong Tang Hoi. The province of Northern Vietnam) was mostly area where this temple was built was called influenced by Indian culture. At that time, the Buddhist Holy Place. Giao Chau was also a province under Han Khuong Tang Hoi taught and Dynasty-Chinese domination. From India via ordained to the villagers who became monks. sea trade routes, the Buddhist scholars and His establishment of the first Buddhist the monks continued to reach Giao Chau from in Southern China was significant. It India, travelling along with traders. In fact, marked a remarkable period when the Indian merchants often invited the monks to Buddhist Sangha began to establish its accompany with them for being safe in long foundation to train young monks to lead the journey. Buddhism for lay people in the area. Tang As mentioned in Chu-zan-zang-ji and Hoi translated the Sutras and trained the Gao-seng-zhuan above, Khuong Tang Hoi‟s young generation to take in charge of father was a Sogdian merchant who emigrated propagating Buddhism in the area of Jiang- from North India and stayed in Giao Chau. zuo 江左 (Jiang-zuo or Jiang-Dong 江东 is an area According to his biography in Gao Sheng on the Southern of Yang-tze 江子 River). Zhuan (高僧傳), Khuong Tang Hoi‟s parents In the first year of Tai-kang 太康 era died when he was only ten years old age. (280CE) of Dong-jin 东晋, Khuong Tang Hoi Soon after, he entered the Buddhist Order in passed away. Thus, Khuong Tang Hoi is very young age. Khuong Tang Hoi studied, considered a renowned translator during the well versed in Han, and scripts. He

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-1, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, https://www.onlinejournal.in

Three Kingdoms (Wei 魏-Su 肃-Wu 吴) period Chan Yuan 百子同产缘 in the Zhuan Ji Bai of ancient China. Yuan Jing and the story of Putra in the Avadanasataka with story number twenty- II- The Works of Khuong Tang Hoi three of the Liudu Jijing, we could recognize in Vietnam and China: the effort of the documentary compilers to Regarding to Khuong Tang Hoi‟s assimilate the Indian accounts into that translated works and commentaries, several Vietnamese. Therefore, Khuong Tang Hoi short pieces authored by Khuong Tang Hoi tried to compile these accounts to integrate himself have been preserved (Jan Nattier, Indian Buddhism into Vietnamese tradition, 2008): literature, and transform Indian elements as 1- Preface to An Shi Gao‟s Anban Shouyi the inseparable parts of Vietnamese jing (Anapanasati sutta). Buddhism. 2-Preface to his own (lost) commentary on An Xuan and Yan Fo Tiao‟s Fa Jing Jing. III。 Khuong Tang Hoi as the first 3- Introduction to sections 1 through 5 of his meditation master in Vietnam own compiled Liu-du-ji-jing (A Collection of and Southern China: Six Perfections). Khuong Tang Hoi, a Sogdian- citizen 4- Dao-Pin 道品 (lost) as one of the best-known Buddhist monks in 5- Commentary on Dao-shu-jing China in the third century, mastered the The Preface to Anban Shouyijing meditated teachings regarding his focuses on traditional meditation practice, commentary to the Sutta on meditation that which is still embedded within the An Shi Gao had translated, namely Anban transmitted text of Chu Sanzang jiji 出三藏记 Shouyijing (Anapanasati Sutta). Since 集 (T2445, 55.96a). Khuong Tang Hoi Khuong Tang Hoi went to Jianye-China, he portrayed himself as having derived great should be considered as an early patriarch of benefit from meeting with three laymen, the meditation school in China. Because namely Han-Lin 韩林, Pi-Ye 劈業, and Chen- according to the Chinese accounts of Hui 陈惠 with whom he referred to as “three meditation tradition, Bodhidharma who went worthies”. These laymen had migrated to to China from India in the sixth century Giao Chau after the fall of Han Dynasty, (nearly three hundred years after Khuong brought with them teaching derived from the Tang Hoi came to Jianye), is considered as school of An Shi Gao (An Shi Gao 安世高 the first patriarch of the meditation school. In (c.148-180CE) was a prince of Parthia who fact, many monks and laymen practiced renounced his throne in order to serve as a early meditation quite after Khuong Tang Hoi‟s Buddhist missionary monk to China (Robert, 49). time and before Bodhidharma. For instance, Khuong Tang Hoi reported that Chen Hui in the Gao Seng Zhuan, Hui Jiao 慧皎 provided the annotations to the Anban mentioned several monks who practiced Shouyijing, which Tang Hoi helped to revise meditation after Khuong Tang Hoi‟s period. and record. In the introduction to Anban Such as, Zhu Seng Hsien 竺僧显, a northern Shouyijing, Khuong Tang Hoi mentioned “If native, who lived in the south of Jiangzuo 江 it was not from the master, it was not 左高僧傳 during the year of 319 AD and later, transmitted I dare not to add anything on my went to some famous mountains to cultivate own initiative”. Probably, Khuong Tang Hoi (Hui Jiao. T2059, 50.0395b). The second had based on this Sutta, his preface and recorded monk namely Bo Seng Guang 帛僧 commentary as well as his native teacher‟s 光 who practiced meditation since his youth. instructions to teach meditation in Giao Chi In 345AD, he practiced meditation in the 交支 for many years prior to his missionary mountain Shicheng 石城山 in Jiangdong 江东. work in Jian-ye 建業. Khuong Tang Hoi‟s writing and translation in Liudu Jijing that contains the Conclusion In brief, due to the life and works of Giao Chi (Jiaozhi 交支) customary elements Khuong Tang Hoi, we can come to know how such as the legend of the hundred eggs, the Buddhism prevailed in second and third legend of fox transforming into human, the centuries in Vietnam and in Southern China dropping the gold coins into the diseased in third centuries. Especially, in his preface person‟s mouth, and the high status for to Anban Shouyijing, we know that the women. When we compare the Bai Zi Tong

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-1, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, https://www.onlinejournal.in meditation tradition preached by Lord Buddha Kingdoms 三國 (220–280)", Chinese is considered as to represent an unbroken line knowledge, (2000), retrieved 7 July 2015). of transmission in Vietnam. These practices 2 Seng You, Chu San zang Ji Ji. (T2145), 55.42c, contained in the Suttas were 96a29 ; Hui Jiao. Gao Sheng Zhuan, harmony included with the spirit of (T2059), 50.325a13-18. Buddhism. 3 The legend recorded the marriage of Lac Long Moreover, the conversion of Wu Sun Quan (Dragon Lord of Lac) with fairy Au Quan and his support for building a Buddhist Co to conceive one hundred eggs that broke temple in the capital was one of the greatest out as one hundred sons. These sons in turn events in early Chinese Buddhism. created one hundred Viet (Bai Yue ethnic Through above presentation, I intend group)( Anh Thu Ha and Hong Duc to show the richness of Vietnamese Buddhism Tran,2000:3) and the remarkable contribution of Khuong 4 Liudu Jijing. T152:14a.26. Tang Hoi towards the foundation and 5 Jan Nattier, 2008, A Guide to the Earliest Chinese development of the Buddhist traditions in Buddhist Translations. Tokyo: The Vietnam and Southern China. International Research Institute for Advanced Buddhology, Soka University. Reference 6 Karel Weimar, Feb 2009, The Place of Relic Worship in Buddhism: An Unresolved 1 The Three Kingdoms period (A.D. 184/220–280) Controversy. International Journal of was a period in history when China was Buddhist Thought and Culture. Vol.12, 8. 7 Mariko Namba Walter, Nov 2009, Sino-Platonic divided between the states of Wei (魏), Shu Papers: Sogdians and Buddhism-174, 25. (蜀), and Wu (吳).Wei is also known as 8 Robert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr. Cao Wei (曹魏), Shu is also known as Shu (Eds), An Shi Gao, The Princeton Han (蜀漢), and Wu is also known as Dong Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: New (or Eastern) Wu ( 東吳) (see Theobald, Jersey, Princeton University Press. 2014. Ulrich, "Chinese History – Three 9 Anh Thu Ha and Hong Duc Tran, A Brief Chronology of Vietnam’s History, The Gioi Publishers-, 2000, 3.

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