The principal founding figure of Chinese Buddhist canonical-bibliographic and historical scholarship. Lay surname Yú 俞, native of Xiàpī jùn 下邳郡 (in modern Jiāngsū). Born 445; died at Jiànchūsì 建初寺 in the southern capital on Tiānjiān 17, 5th month, 26th day = 21 June 518, age 74.
He took ordination at age 14 at Dìng-lín-sì 定林寺 under Fǎ-xiàn 法獻, then deepened his vinaya studies under Fǎ-yǐng 法穎 — becoming the leading Sì-fēn-lǜ 四分律 expert of his generation. Subsequently, at the request of the Cí-líng-wáng 竟陵王 (= Xiāo Zǐ-liáng 蕅子良, the great Liáng-dynasty Buddhist patron), he opened lectures on the vinaya. In Yǒng-míng 永明 (483–493) of the Southern Qí, he was imperially commanded to enter the Wú region, examine and confirm the five-class monastic ordination, lecture on the Shí-sòng-lǜ 十誦律 (Daśabhāṇavāra-vinaya), and expound the methods of receiving the precepts.
His scholarly legacy is foundational for Chinese Buddhist studies:
- Chū sānzàng jì jí 出三藏記集 (KR6s0084, T2145, 15 juan) — the foundational Chinese Buddhist canonical bibliography and translator-historical compendium.
- Hóngmíng jí 弘明集 (KR6r0137, T2102, 14 juan) — the foundational anthology of Chinese Buddhist apologetic literature, gathering anti-Daoist and pro-Buddhist polemical writings from the Hàn through Liáng periods.
- Shìjiā pǔ 釋迦譜 (T2040, 5 juan) — biographical compilation on Śākyamuni and his Indian disciples.
- Sàpóduōbù xiāngchéng zhuàn 薩婆多部相承傳 — Sarvāstivāda lineage tradition.
- Púsà shànjiè dìchí èrjīng jì 菩薩善戒地持二經記 (lost).
- Dàjí xūkōngzàng wújìnyì jīng jì 大集虛空藏無盡意經記 (lost).
- Xiányú jīng jì 賢愚經記 (lost).
His major disciples include Zhìzàng 智藏 (one of the three great Liáng dharma-masters), Huìkuò 慧廓, Bǎochàng 寶唱 (compiler of KR6s0001 Jīnglǜ yìxiàng), and the Línchuānwáng Hóng 臨川王宏 — together with monks-and-laity totaling over 10,000 followers.
Death: at Jiànchūsì 建初寺 in the southern capital on the 26th day of the 5th lunar month of Tiānjiān 17 = 21 June 518, age 74.
Source: DILA Buddhist Person Authority A001587; Liáng gāosēng zhuàn 梁高僧傳, j. 11 Sēngyòu zhuàn (T50n2059_p0402c03–p0402c26); Yínián lù 疑年錄: 32; Fóguāng dà cídiǎn p. 5738.