English
English version: Xiang, originally surnamed Zhang, named Pei Hua, was a native of Hongnong. His father, Mao, was from a very wealthy family. Xiang studied scriptures and teachings from an early age. At the age of fifteen, he married Huangfu Da of Beidi, who was a palace attendant. Huangfu Da's behavior during mourning was improper, and Xiang disliked him, requesting to dissolve the marriage, and thus requested to become a monk. His father agreed to both requests. He was diligent and hardworking, ate vegetarian food, and devoted himself to studying the wisdom of the Buddha's teachings, understanding the appearances of the Dharma. He lived in the Yinlin of Beiyue in Hongnong, facing the wilderness. He had many disciples, and he enjoyed the quiet and open environment, living in seclusion there for more than twenty years. He worked hard in his practice, and the longer he did it, the more determined he became. Every time he preached to transform others, he often worried that the listeners would not be able to concentrate, and sometimes he would weep to warn them. Therefore, his teachings and instructions were able to benefit people. During the Yonghe period of the Jin Dynasty, the governor of Hongnong invited him to a seven-day fast. At the banquet, a commoner consulted about the Buddha's teachings, with disrespect in his words. Xiang said sternly: 'You not only slight me, but also greatly despise the local official. Why are you so rude, casually spouting nonsense in the human world?' So he claimed illness and withdrew. At that time, monks and laypeople all admired him. Later, he was bedridden for many days due to illness, and he was happy at the time of his death. He turned to his disciples and said: 'Whether poor or prominent, life will eventually have death. Today I must say goodbye.' After speaking, he passed away. Biography of Nun Kang Minggan of Jianfu Temple, Five Minggan, originally surnamed Zhu, was a native of Gaoping. Her family had believed in the Buddhist scriptures for generations. She was captured by bandits who wanted to make her their wife, and they tortured her in every way, but she vowed not to accept the humiliation. She was demoted to herding sheep and spent ten years. Her longing for home grew stronger, but she had no way to return. She often recited the Three Jewels and wished to become a nun. Suddenly, she met a Bhikkhu who asked her to take the Five Precepts. The Bhikkhu also taught her the Avalokitesvara Sutra. She was able to learn and recite it day and night. She vowed to build a five-story pagoda after returning home. Because of worry and longing, she ran away, heading east. At first, she did not know the way, traveling day and night. She went straight into a mountain and saw a spotted tiger. She moved away a few steps, initially very scared, retreating slightly, but her heart was firm and her wish was even stronger. So she followed the tiger. After many days, about ten days, she arrived in Qingzhou. When she was about to enter the village, the tiger disappeared. After arriving in Qingzhou, she was captured by Ming Bolian. The news reached her home, and her husband and son came to redeem her. Her family imprisoned her, and her ambition was not realized, so she could only cultivate herself with hardship. She worked hard and diligently for three years, and was able to concentrate on meditation, keeping the precepts without fault. Even if there was a small fault, she would repent for several days in a row, and would not stop until she saw an auspicious sign. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
休。或见雨花。或闻空声。或睹佛像。或夜善梦。年及桑榆操行弥峻江北子女师奉如归。晋永和四年春与慧湛等十人。济江诣司空公何充。充一见甚敬重于时京师未有尼寺。充以别宅。为之立寺。问感曰。当何名之。答曰。大晋四部今日始备。檀越所建皆造福业。可名曰建福寺。公从之矣。后遇疾少时便卒。 北永安寺昙备尼传六 昙备。本姓陶。丹阳建康人也。少有清信愿修正法。而无有昆弟。独与母居。事母恭孝宗党称之。年及笄嫁徴币弗许。母不能违听其离俗。精勤戒行日夜无怠。晋穆皇帝礼接敬厚。常称曰。久看更佳。谓章皇后何氏曰。京邑比丘尼鲜有昙备之俦也。到永和十年后为立寺于定阴里。名永安(今之何后寺是)谦虚导物。未尝有矜慢之容。名誉日广。远近投集。众三百人。年七十三。泰元二十一年卒。弟子昙罗。博览经律机才赡密。敕续师任。更立四层塔讲堂房宇。又造卧像及七佛龛堂云。 建福寺慧湛尼传七 慧湛。本姓彭。任城人也。神貌超远精操殊特。渊情旷达济物为务。恶衣蔬食乐在其中。尝荷衣山行逢群劫。欲举刃向湛。手不能胜。因求湛所负衣。湛欢笑而与曰。君意望甚重所获殊轻。复解其衣内新裙与之。劫即辞谢并以还湛。湛舍之而去。建元二年渡江。司 现代汉语译本 休。有时会看到天空中飘落花朵，有时会听到空中的声音，有时会看到佛像，有时会在夜晚做好梦。年龄大了之后，操守品行更加严谨，江北的女子们像对待老师一样尊敬她。晋朝永和四年春天，她与慧湛等十人，渡江去拜访司空公何充（人名）。何充一见她就非常敬重。当时京城还没有尼姑庵，何充就把自己的别宅，改建为尼姑庵。何充问她，应该叫什么名字。她回答说，‘大晋的四部众今天才算完备，您所建造的都是造福的事业，可以叫做建福寺。’何充听从了她的建议。后来她生病，不久就去世了。 昙备尼传（比丘尼的传记）六：昙备，原本姓陶，是丹阳建康人。从小就有清净的信仰，希望修正法，但是没有兄弟，独自与母亲居住。侍奉母亲恭敬孝顺，宗族乡党都称赞她。到了可以出嫁的年龄，有人送来聘礼求娶，她都不答应。母亲不能违背她的意愿，听任她离开世俗。她精进勤奋，遵守戒律，日夜没有懈怠。晋穆皇帝对她礼遇有加，非常敬重，常常称赞说，‘时间越长越觉得她好。’他对章皇后何氏（人名）说，‘京城里的比丘尼很少有能和昙备相比的。’到了永和十年之后，为她在定阴里建立寺庙，名叫永安（就是现在的何后寺）。她谦虚待人，引导众生，从来没有骄傲自满的神色。名声越来越大，远近的人都来投靠她，有三百多人。七十三岁时，在泰元二十一年去世。她的弟子昙罗，博览经书戒律，机敏有才华，奉皇帝的命令接替她的位置。又建造了四层宝塔、讲堂和房屋，还建造了卧佛像和七佛龛堂等。 慧湛尼传（比丘尼的传记）七：慧湛，原本姓彭，是任城人。神态容貌超凡脱俗，精神操守非常独特。心胸开阔旷达，以救济众生为己任。穿着粗劣的衣服，吃着粗淡的食物，却乐在其中。曾经穿着僧衣在山中行走，遇到一群强盗。强盗想要举刀砍向慧湛，却手无力气。于是就向慧湛索要她所背负的衣服。慧湛笑着把衣服给了他们，说，‘你们的期望很大，得到的却很少。’又解开衣服里面的新裙子给他们。强盗立刻辞谢，并把衣服还给慧湛。慧湛把衣服舍弃后离开了。建元二年，她渡江。
English
English version Hsiu: Sometimes she would see raining flowers, sometimes she would hear voices in the air, sometimes she would behold Buddha images, and sometimes she would have good dreams at night. As she grew older, her conduct became even more strict, and the women of Jiangbei respected her as a teacher. In the spring of the fourth year of the Yonghe era of the Jin Dynasty, she and ten others, including Huizhan, crossed the river to visit Sikong Gong He Chong (a person's name). He Chong greatly respected her upon their first meeting. At that time, there were no nunneries in the capital, so He Chong converted his other residence into a nunnery for her. He Chong asked her what it should be named. She replied, 'The fourfold assembly of the Great Jin is complete today. What you have built is all meritorious work, so it can be named Jianfu Temple.' Gong followed her advice. Later, she fell ill and soon passed away. Biography of Bhikkhuni Tanbei of Yong'an Temple in the North, Six: Tanbei, originally surnamed Tao, was a native of Jiankang in Danyang. From a young age, she had a pure faith and wished to cultivate the Correct Dharma, but she had no brothers and lived alone with her mother. She served her mother with respect and filial piety, and the clan and community praised her. When she reached marriageable age, she refused all betrothal gifts. Her mother could not go against her wishes and allowed her to leave secular life. She was diligent and assiduous in observing the precepts, without懈怠day or night. Emperor Mu of the Jin Dynasty treated her with courtesy and respect, often praising her, saying, 'The longer I know her, the better she seems.' He said to Empress Zhang He (a person's name), 'There are few bhikkhunis in the capital who can compare to Tanbei.' In the tenth year of the Yonghe era, a temple was established for her in Dingyinli, named Yong'an (now Hehou Temple). She was humble in guiding others and never showed any arrogance or complacency. Her reputation grew daily, and people from far and near came to join her, numbering over three hundred. At the age of seventy-three, she passed away in the twenty-first year of the Taiyuan era. Her disciple Tanluo, who had extensively studied the scriptures and precepts and was quick-witted and talented, was ordered to succeed her. She further built a four-story pagoda, lecture hall, and rooms, and also created a reclining Buddha statue and a hall for the Seven Buddhas. Biography of Bhikkhuni Huizhan of Jianfu Temple, Seven: Huizhan, originally surnamed Peng, was a native of Rencheng. Her spirit and appearance were extraordinary, and her conduct was particularly unique. She had a broad and open mind and took it as her duty to help others. She wore coarse clothing and ate simple food, finding joy in it. Once, while walking in the mountains wearing her monastic robes, she encountered a group of robbers. They tried to raise their knives to Huizhan, but their hands were unable to lift them. So they asked Huizhan for the clothes she was carrying. Huizhan smiled and gave them the clothes, saying, 'Your expectations are great, but what you have gained is very little.' She also untied the new skirt inside her clothes and gave it to them. The robbers immediately declined and returned the clothes to Huizhan. Huizhan abandoned the clothes and left. In the second year of the Jianyuan era, she crossed the river. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 空何充大加崇敬请居建福寺住云。 延兴寺僧基尼传八
Chinese
僧基。本姓明。济南人也。绾发志道秉愿出家。母氏不听。密以许嫁。秘其聘礼。迎接日近女乃觉知。即便绝粮水浆不下。亲属共请意不可移。至于七日母呼女婿。婿敬信。见妇殆尽。谓妇母曰。人各有志不可夺也。母即从之。因遂出家。时年二十一。内外亲戚皆来庆慰。竞施珍华争设名供。州牧给伎郡守亲临。道俗咨嗟叹未曾有。基净持戒范精进习经。数与昙备尼名辈略齐。枢机最密善言事议康。皇帝雅相崇礼。建元二年皇后褚氏为立寺于都亭里通恭巷内。名曰延兴。基居寺住。徒众百余人。当事清明道俗加敬。年六十八。隆安元年卒矣。 洛阳城东寺道馨尼传九 竺道馨。本姓羊。太山人也。志性专谨与物无忤。沙弥时常为众使口恒诵经。及年二十诵法华维摩等经。具戒后研求理味蔬食苦节。弥老弥至。住洛阳东寺。雅能清谈尤善小品。贵在理通不事辞辩。一州道学所共师宗。比丘尼讲经馨其始也。晋泰和中有女人杨令辩。笃信黄老专行服气。先时人物亦多敬事。及馨道王其术寝亡。令辩假结同姓数相去来。内怀姤嫉伺行毒害。后窃以毒药内馨食中。诸治不愈。弟子问往谁家得病。答曰。我其知主。皆籍业缘。汝无问也。设道有益 现代汉语译本： 空和尚非常崇敬他，请他住在建福寺。 延兴寺的僧人基尼传记第八 僧基，原本姓明，是济南人。年幼时就立志向道，秉持出家的愿望，但他的母亲不同意，秘密地为他订了婚，并隐瞒了聘礼。在迎娶的日子临近时，女子才得知此事，便开始绝食绝水。亲属们共同劝说，但她的意志不可动摇。到了第七天，母亲叫来了女婿。女婿非常敬重僧基的志向，看到女子几乎要死去，便对她的母亲说：‘每个人都有自己的志向，不可强迫啊。’母亲便听从了他。因此，僧基得以出家，当时他二十一岁。内外亲戚都来祝贺慰问，争相赠送珍贵的礼物，争着设置盛大的斋供。州牧派来乐伎，郡守亲自到场。僧俗大众都赞叹说从未有过这样的事。僧基清净地持守戒律，精进地学习经典，常常与昙备尼等名僧齐名。他处事周密，善于言谈议事，皇帝非常崇敬他。建元二年，皇后褚氏在都亭里的通恭巷内为他建立了一座寺庙，名叫延兴寺。僧基住在寺中，徒弟有一百多人。他处理事务清明公正，道俗都很敬重他。六十八岁时，在隆安元年去世。 洛阳城东寺的道馨尼传记第九 竺道馨，原本姓羊，是泰山人。她的志向和性格都非常专一谨慎，与世无争。做沙弥时，经常为大家服务，口中不停地诵经。到了二十岁，她诵读《法华经》、《维摩经》等经典。受具足戒后，她研习经义，吃素，生活简朴，年纪越大越是如此。她住在洛阳东寺，擅长清谈，尤其擅长《小品般若经》。她注重义理通达，不追求辞藻辩论。整个州的学道之人都以她为师。比丘尼讲解佛经，道馨是开始者。晋朝泰和年间，有个女人叫杨令辩，笃信黄老之术，专门修行服气之法。先前的人物也有很多敬重她。等到道馨的佛法兴盛后，她的方术就衰落了。杨令辩假装与道馨结为同姓，多次往来。内心怀着嫉妒，伺机下毒。后来，她偷偷地将毒药放在道馨的食物中。各种治疗方法都不见效。弟子们问她以前去谁家得的病，她回答说：‘我大概知道是谁做的，这都是业缘所致，你们不要问了。’如果修道有益