The Golden Age: Tang Translation Initiatives in Full Swing

This chapter studies the collective sūtra translation activities during the reigns of Emperors Gaozong and Daizong, often considered the zenith of Tang Buddhism. Six well-known translation teams organized by Divākara, Devaprajña, Śikṣānanda, Yijing, Bodhiruci, and Amoghavajra are examined one by one to reveal how they fostered the advancement of the elite translation model established by their forebears and navigated the political and social landscapes of their time to facilitate the translation projects of Buddhist texts. By exploring the organization, capabilities, and influence of the translation teams, this chapter also explains the complexity of translation and the extraordinary level of imperial support during this period.