Who was "An Shigao" ?

By "Dotetsuzenji"

A Parthian prince by the name of “An Shigao” was the first and the most important translator of Buddhist texts and Sutras from Sanskrit to Chinese in 148 A.D. . He was the propagator of Dhyana , Dhamma ( The Buddha’s teaching in theory and practice) and basic Buddhist concepts in China. He is known as a Bodhisattva. His name as a Bodhisattva has been forgotten by some historians.

“An Shigao” was a Parthian prince who belonged to the Parthian kingdom )Ashkanians) in 148 A.D. . He was born in Khorasan (Tukharistan; Balkh ; Bactria). Khorasan at that time was in the North-East of Persia. At the time, Parthians was called “Traxiane” in Helenistic period [The Hellenistic period covers the period of Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 3 centuries B.C. and the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 or 32 B.C.]. “An Shigao”studied Buddhism and developed it in Iran to some extent. He came to know about Buddhism when he was quite young. He came to know Buddhism through some missionaries from India. Dr. Mostafa Vaziri in his book “Buddhism in Iran” says,

“It was centuries before B.C and at the time of "Ashok Shah" that Buddhism penetrated in Persia”. After accepting Buddhism, The King Ashok sent some of his missionaries to the neighbouring areas including Persia. “An Shigao” was awakened by the teaching of the Buddha Sakyamuni. First started spreading Buddhism in his own territory but his high and comprehended knowledge about Buddhism transcendent the habitat he was living. He thought of disseminating his achievement in another country. There must be some reasons as why he preferred to go to China.

According to the researchers two important reasons made him go to China:

To save his achievement in a safe and assured place
To disseminate this humanitarian teaching to China to help them to know about the awakening of the Buddha

Therefore he decided to renounce everything in order to disseminate his vast knowledge about Buddhism in China.

“An Shigao” was not a mythical figure but an actual historical personality, an ordinary monk who was awakened by the teachings of the Buddha. He developed Buddhism in the form of “Chan” (known as Chinese Buddhism ). Evidence to this fact are many.

These evidences are including Rock – inscriptions, pillars and temples which were burnt down by the Arabs invasion and the documents which proves the existence of “An Shigao” and his services to the world. He was the founder of “Chan”. he was born as a prince who seemed to have everything. He had luxurious upbringing and his family was of pure decent on both sides. He was heir to the throne. Despite all this comfort and luxurious life, he felt dissatisfied like a bird in a golden cage. He talked to his father first but his father strictly disagreed with his suggestion. His father wanted his son to become his successor. His father died, he participated in the funeral ceremony and soon he surrendered the throne to his uncle and took final decision. He left his country with a group of courtiers to accompany him to the Chinese Imperial court. He was enthusiastically willing to spread the truth out of his own country.

Decision to serve people

The way of abandonment followed by “An Shigao” and his leaving of worldly pleasures and the mortal world with its superficial attractions was similar to manner of the Buddha’s leaving home and kingdom:

Both the Buddha and “An Shigao” were heir to the throne. They were crown prince.
Both of them were prevented of renouncing the world while they were at best circumstances.
Both of them did “Nekkhamma Parami” (final decision) and became monk
Enthusiastic desire to transmit the truth to the people and also to awaken them to their pure mind, and to get rid of their suffering.

Before coming to China

Before coming to China “An Shigao” knew about the way of thinking of Taoism and Confucianism. Having had deep knowledge of Buddhism he decided to bring Buddhism to the China for two important reasons:

1-To save his achievement in a safe and assured place

2- to disseminate this humanitarian teachings to promote Chinese understanding of Buddhism

The chinese knew about Buddhism more or less but at the practical level. “An Shigao” introduced the gist of Buddhism to the Chinese.

Welcoming by the Chinese

Some of the characteristics of the Chinese tradition were:

1- They were hospitable to foreigners

2- Special attention to the missionaries and the foreign elites ( the Nobles and the Aristocrats). More than that, an interesting and notable point was that foreign princes were eligible to the throne. They had rights to share in the kingdom. They could reach high, exalted posts and positions. This law was not seen in other countries at that time. The imperial court of the “Han” encouraged this law and this law was respectable to the Chinese imperial court. This law was well-established until the 7th century A.D.

After coming to China

“An Shigao” entered China during the “Han” Dynasty. The name of “An Shigao” has been registered as a missionary to the imperial court of China. “An Shigao” was offered to stay wherever he wished but he preferred to stay in “White Horse Temple” (A Buddhist temple) to start his missionary.

About White Horse Temple

White Horse Temple was built earlier than “An Shigao” came to China but it was only a symbol of Buddhsim. This temple was made in the time of “Han dynasty” supported by “King Ming” (Emperor Ming) but lacking in deep interpretation of Buddhsim, since it was entrusted to “An Shigao” . The Chinese did not know about the teaching of the Buddha in a way “An Shigao” introduced and taught. “An Shigao” preferred to stay in the temple in “Louyang” in China and then the temple became a permanent sacred place.

His activities with two other translators

He stayed in the temple for more than 20 years translating the Buddhist texts and simultaneously teaching what he translated. He was the first Buddhist translator in China who translated Buddhist text and Sutras and then taught what he translated. He established a Translation Team with one of his collaborator (his compatriot) ”An Xuren” and another lay Buddhist (Taoist) by the name of “Yan Fotiao”. These founders of the Buddhist school in China (Two Iranians and one Chinese ) were called three non- imitating translators because there were no other translators before them to translate Buddhist texts in China in the history of the Buddhist translators to China (according to the recent evidence and reliable sources). “An Shigao” has been considered as the first and the most dedicated translator of the Buddhist texts and Sutras in China.There were of course many after him but he was the pioneer among all. “An Shigao” (his works and his contribution) were buried by some non-committed historians for ages until some devoted historians revealed it and elucidated the fact as well. The numbers of these researchers are many and some of them will be mentioned at the end of this talk.

He has developed the culture and religion of China, brought Chinese “Chan” and introduced Buddhism in his own way both in theory and practice. Also his descendants helped the Chinese to establish “Sabao office” which was mainly concerned with commerce. As a matter of fact the new researches tell us that the “Persians” were active in building both culture and commerce of China. Later these three Thoughts ; Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism; formed “Chan” (known as Chinese Buddhism ) in China. This combination was first initiated by An Shgao. In fact “An Shigao” is the fiunder of Chinse Buddhism “Chan” in China.

The Persians (Iranians and other countries that once belonged to the land of ancient Iran ) are proud of “An Shigao” and he is respected as the true disciple of the Buddha. “An Shigao” belongs to Iran’s history, to our ancient culture, our civilisation and also our way of thinking even years before the Arabs invasion. It is contrary to the views of some ignorant Islamic commentators which say that It is (it was) Islam which gave credit to the Iranians culture. The facts and references about “An Shigao” negates this bogus claim.

The history of Buddhism in Iran and “An Shigao”

Some people mistakenly think that Iranians were not so familiar with Buddhism in general. They think Buddhism did not come to Iran as it is found in some other countries. They think it went to all neighbouring regions but not Iran. This opinion is basically wrong. Those who think so do not know about the history of Buddhism and do not know about the Iranian culture. Dr. Mostafa Vaziri has published a book “ Buddhism in Iran” in 2012. In this book he explains thoroughly with references and reliable sources about the presence of Buddhism in Iran centuries ago even at the time the Buddha Sakymuni Himself.

Some Sources and Evidence

Those who have discovered about this truth are many but I’d like to mention a few of them here as an authentic source. If the readers need more evidence I can refer him/her to the prof. Antonino Forte’s book, “Iranian Family in China”, Chapter Bibliography ( at the end of the book).

Prof. Antonino Forte of Italy in his book “The Hostage An Shigao and His Offspring : An Iranian Family in China” , 1995
Prof. Erik Zorcher of Netherland in his book “ Buddhist Conquest of China” ,1959
Prof. Stefano Zacchetti of Oxford University (Italian) [ A New early Chinese Buddhist commentary], The nature of Anban Shuyi jing (Mindfulness of breathing) which is commented in JIABS ( Journal of International Association Buddhist Studies), 2008-2010, [JIABS] can be found in the Google.
Prof. Paul Pelliot (French), “ Influence of Iranians in Central Asia”
Jan Nattier of the United States, “Mahayana Buddhism”
Tsukamoto Zenryu, “History of Chinese Buddhism”, 1985
Koike Ichiro, “Anshi Kao an early translator of the Buddhist Scriptures” ,1987
The Ven, Tich Nhat Hanh, “Master Tang Hoi”, 1998
Dr. Mostafa vaziri, “Buddhism in Iran”, 2012