Dao An was a Buddhist monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, originating from what is now Hebei Province. Mainly important today as a translator of Buddhist scripture. He was active in Xiangyang until the Former Qin

Former Qin

The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376. Its capital had been Xi'an up to the death of the ruler Fu Jiān. Despite its name, the Former Qin was much later and less powerful than...

 ruler Fu Jian

Fu Jian

Fu Jian may refer to:* Fú Jiàn , founding emperor of Former Qin, posthumous name Emperor Jingming* Fú Jiān , ruler of Former Qin, posthumous name Emperor Xuanzhao-See also:...

 苻堅 captured the city in 379 and had Dao An brought to live in Changan. He spent the last years of life translating and interpreting scripture as well as compiling a catalogue of scriptures. He also advocated monks and nuns taking Shi 釋 as a surname, from the Chinese for Sakyamuni (釋迦牟尼佛).

External links

• Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest")