Dharmaratna

Dharmaratna, Gobharana, or Zhu Falan (竺法蘭) was an Indian Buddhist monk who is traditionally believed to have first introduced Buddhism to China in the 1st century CE.

Dharmaratna
Tumulus marker of Dharmaratna located in White Horse Temple, Luoyang, China
Personal
Bornunknown
Central India
Diedunknown
Luoyang, Henan, China
ReligionBuddhism
Flourished50-80 CE
Notable work(s)Sutra in Forty-two Sections
OccupationBuddhist monk who introduced Buddhism to China, translator from Sanskrit to Chinese
Dharmaratna
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese竺法蘭
Simplified Chinese竺法兰
Sanskrit name
Sanskritधर्मरत्न

According to popular accounts of Chinese Buddhism, Emperor Ming of Han dreamt of a golden deity interpreted as the Buddha and sent a delegation to India. They returned circa 67 CE with the monks Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna, and white horses carrying Buddhist texts and images. The emperor established White Horse Temple in the Han capital Luoyang, where the two supposedly first translated the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters into Chinese.[1]

References

  1. 竺法蘭, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (login: guest, no password).


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