List of notable historical figures in Buddhism

Template:Clone2 This is a list of notable historical figures in Buddhism. This list should not be considered to be complete.

Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools

Individuals are grouped by nationality, except in cases where their influence was felt elsewhere. Gautama Buddha and his immediate disciples ('Buddhists') are listed separately from later Indian Buddhist thinkers, teachers and contemplatives.

Buddha's disciples and early Buddhists

File:Walking statue of the Buddha.JPG

Buddha and his disciples; the world’s tallest walking statue of the Buddha, in Kandy, Sri Lanka

See also: Disciples of Gautama Buddha and Family of Gautama Buddha

• The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama
• Amrapali
• Ananda, Siddhartha's cousin, personal attendant of the Buddha and one of his chief disciples
• Anathapindika
• Angulimala
• Anuruddha
• Assaji
• Ajatasattu
• Bimbisara
• Channa
• Citta
• Cunda
• Devadatta, another cousin of Siddhartha and later rival who attempted to assassinate the Buddha
• Hatthaka of Alavi
• Kaccāna
• Khema
• Khujjuttara
• Kisa Gotami
• Kondañña
• Mahākāśyapa
• Maudgalyayana (Template:Lang-pi), one of two chief disciples of the Buddha
• Nanda
• Mahapajapati Gotami, Buddha's aunt and foster mother
• Pasenadi
• Pindola Bharadvaja
• Punna
• Rāhula, only child of Siddhartha and Yasodharā before Siddhartha renounced and began his search for Enlightenment
• Samavati
• Sariputta, one of the two chief disciples of the Buddha
• Subhuti
• Suddhodana
• Sundari
• Sunita
• Upali, foremost disciple in knowledge of the Vinaya
• Uppalavanna
• Velukandakiya
• Visakha
• Yasodharā, Siddhartha's wife before he renounced

Later Indian Buddhists (after Buddha)

• Aryadeva, foremost disciple of Nagarjuna, continued the philosophical school of Madhyamaka
• Asanga, founder of the Yogacara school, widely considered the most important Mahayana philosopher along with Nagarjuna
• Atiśa, holder of the "mind training" teachings, considered an indirect founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism
• Bhāviveka, early expositor of the Svatantrika branch of the Madhyamaka school
• Bodhidharma, founder of Chan Buddhism
• Bodhiruci, patriarch of the Dilun (Template:Zh) school
• Batuo, founding abbot and patriarch of the Shaolin Monastery
• Buddhaghosa, Theravadin commentator
• Buddhapālita, early expositor of the Prasaṅgika branch of the Madhyamaka school
• Chandragomin, renowned grammarian
• Candrakīrti, considered the greatest exponent of Prasaṅgika
• Dharmakirti, famed logician, author of the Seven Treatises; student of Dignāga's student, Īśvārasēna; said to have debated famed Hindu scholar Adi Shankara
• Dignāga, famed logician
• Garab Dorje, Indian founder of Dzogchen (Great Perfection) tradition
• Kamalaśīla (8th century), author of important texts on meditation
• Luipa, one of the eighty-four tantric Mahasiddhas
• Nagarjuna, founder of the Madhyamaka school, widely considered the most important Mahayana philosopher (with Asanga)
• Nadapada (Tib. Naropa), Tilopa's primary disciple, teacher of Marpa the Translator and Khungpo Nyaljor
• Padmasambhava (Tib. Guru Rinpoche), Indian founder of Tibetan Buddhism
• Saraha, famed mahasiddha, forefather of the Kagyu lineage
• Śāntarakṣita, abbot of Nalanda, founder of the Yogacara who helped Padmasambhava establish Buddhism in Tibet
• Shantideva (8th century), author of the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra
• Tilopa, recipient of four separate transmissions from Nagarjuna, Nagpopa, Luipa, and Khandro Kalpa Zangmo; Naropa's teacher
• Vasubandhu, author of the Abhidharmakōśa and various Yogacara treatises; these may or may not be the same person

Indo-Greek

• Dharmaraksita (3rd century BCE), Greek Buddhist missionary sent by emperor Ashoka, and a teacher of the monk Nagasena
• Mahadharmaraksita (2nd century BCE), Greek Buddhist master during the time of Menander
• Nāgasena (2nd century BCE), Buddhist sage questioned about Buddhism by Milinda, the Indo-Greek king in the Milinda Pañha

Central Asian

• An Shigao, Parthian monk and the first known Buddhist missionary to China, in 148 CE
• Dharmarakṣa, Yuezhi monk, the first known translator of the Lotus Sutra into Chinese
• Jñānagupta (561-592), monk and translator from Gandhara, Pakistan
• Kumārajīva (c. 401), Kuchan monk and one of the most important translators
• Lokaksema, Kushan monk, first translator of Mahayana scriptures into Chinese, around 180 CE
• Prajñā (c. 810), monk and translator from Kabul, who translated important texts into Chinese and educated the Japanese Kūkai in Sanskrit texts

Chinese

• Baizhang Huaihai
• Bodhidharma, first patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China
• Dahui Zonggao, 12th-century kōan master
• Daman Hongren, fifth patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China
• Dayi Daoxin, fourth patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China
• Dazu Huike, second patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China
• Faxian, translator and pilgrim
• Fazang
• Guifeng Zongmi, fifth patriarch of the Huayan school
• Hong Yi, calligraphist, painter, master of seal carving
• Huangbo Xiyun, 9th-century teacher of Linji Yixuan
• Huineng, sixth and last patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China
• Ingen, 17th-century Chinese Chan monk, founder of the Ōbaku sect of Zen
• Ji Gong, a Buddhist monk revered as a deity in Taoism
• Jizang, founder of East Asian Mādhyamaka
• Jnanayasas, translator
• Linji Yixuan, 9th-century Chinese monk, founder of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism
• Mazu Daoyi, 8th-century Chan master
• Moheyan, 8th-century Chinese monk, advocate of “sudden” enlightenment
• Sanghapala, 6th-century monk (Mon-Khmer?) who translated many texts to Chinese
• Sengcan, third patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China
• Wumen Huikai, author of the Gateless Gate
• Xuanzang, brought Yogacara to China to found the East Asian Yogācāra school; significant pilgrim, translator
• Xueting Fuyu, 13th-century Shaolin Monastery abbot of the Caodong school
• Yijing, pilgrim and translator
• Yunmen Wenyan, founder of one of the five schools of Chan Buddhism
• Yuquan Shenxiu, Tang dynasty, patriarch of "Northern School" sect of Chan Buddhism
• Zhaozhou, 9th-century Chan master; noted for "Mu" koan
• Zhiyi, founder of the Tiantai school

Tibetan

• Gampopa, student of Jetsun Milarepa and founder of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism
• Jigten Sumgön, founder of Drikung Kagyu Lineage
• Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, founder of the Jonang school and advocate of the shentong philosophy
• Jamgon Kongtrul
• Longchenpa, one of the greatest Nyingma philosophers
• Mandarava, important female student and consort of Padmasambhava
• Marpa Lotsawa, student of Naropa and a founder of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism
• Milarepa, foremost student of Marpa Lotsawa
• Padmasambhava, Indian founder of Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism
• Sakya Pandita, one of the greatest Sakya philosophers
• Taranatha, important Jonang scholar
• Je Tsongkhapa, 14th-century Tibetan monk, founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, based upon the Kadam
• Yeshe Tsogyal, important female student and consort of Padmasambhava

Japanese

• Bankei Yōtaku (1622–1693), Zen master of the Rinzai school
• Dōgen Zenji (1200–1253), founder of the Sōtō school of Zen, based upon the Caodong school
• Eisai (1141–1215), travelled to China and returned to found the Rinzai school of Zen]
• Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769), Rinzai school of Zen]
• Hōnen (1133–1212), founder of the Jōdo-shū school of Pure Land Buddhism
• Ikkyū (1374–1481), Zen Buddhist monk and poet
• Ippen (1234–1289), founder of the Ji-shū sect of Pure Land Buddhism
• Kūkai (774–835), founder of Shingon Buddhism
• Myōe (1173–1232), monk of Kegon and Shingon Buddhism, known for his propagation of the Mantra of Light
• Nakahara Nantenbō (1839–1925), Zen master and artist
• Nichiren (1222–1282), founder of Nichiren Buddhism
• Nikkō (1246–1333), founder of Nichiren Shōshū
• Rōben (689–773), invited Simsang to Japan and founded the Kegon tradition based upon the Korean Hwaeom school
• Ryōkan (1758–1831), Zen monk and poet
• Saichō (767–822), founded Tendai school in Japan, also known by the posthumous title Dengyō Daishi
• Shinran (1173–1263), founder of the Jōdo Shinshū school of Pure Land Buddhism and disciple of Hōnen
• Takuan Sōhō (1573–1645), Zen teacher, and, according to legend, mentor of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi
• Gempō Yamamoto (1866–1961), Zen master
• Shinjō Itō (1906–1989), founder of Shinnyo-en

Korean

• Gihwa (1376–1433), Korean Seon monk; wrote commentaries on the Diamond Sutra and Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment
• Jinul, Korean Seon monk (1158–1210); founder of modern Korean gong'an meditation system
• Uisang (7th century), Korean monk, founder of Hwaeom tradition, based upon the Chinese Huayan school
• Woncheuk
• Wonhyo (617–668), Korean monk; prolific commentator on Mahayana sutras

Burmese

• Shin Arahan, primate of Pagan Kingdom, 1056–1115
• Ledi Sayadaw, propagator of vipassanā
• Mahasi Sayadaw, propagator of vipassanā
• Sayadaw U Tejaniya, propagator of vipassanā
• Mogok Sayadaw, propagator of vipassanā
• Webu Sayadaw, propagator of vipassanā
• Panditarama Sayadaw, propagator of vipassanā
• Mingun Sayadaw, the first monk in Myanmar to be awarded the title of Tipitakadhara, meaning Keeper and Guardian of the Tipitaka
• Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw, founder of Maha Bodhi Tahtaung
• Sitagu Sayadaw, founder and Supreme Head of the Sitagu Buddhist Academies
• Ashin Nandamalabhivamsa, rector of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University
• Ashin Sandadika, a well-known monk
• Ba Khin, propagator of vipassana meditation in the Ledi tradition

Thai

• Buddhadasa, a well-known monk and philosopher
• Ajahn Chah, monk well known for his students from all over the world
• Ajahn Maha Bua, a well-known monk in the Thai Forest Tradition
• Mun Bhuridatta, monk who established Thai Forest Tradition
• Ajahn Sao Kantasīlo, one of the pioneers of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya
• Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro monk who founded the Dhammakaya Movement
• Somdej Toh, monk who was the preceptor and teacher of King Rama IV

Historical rulers and political figures

• Anawrahta (1015–1078), founder of the Pagan Kingdom and credited with introducing Theravada Buddhism there and reintroducing it in Ceylon
• Ashoka (304–232 BC), Mauryan Emperor of ancient India, and the first Buddhist ruler to send Buddhist missionaries outside of India throughout the Old World (阿育王)
• Brihadratha Maurya, last ruler of the Maurya Empire
• Harsha (606–648), Indian emperor who converted to Buddhism
• Jayavarman VII (1181–1219), king of Cambodia
• Kanishka the Great, ruler of the Kushan Empire
• Kublai Khan, Mongol khagan and founder of the Yuan dynasty of China
• Hulagu Khan, Mongol ruler who conquered much of Southwest Asia
• Menander I (Pali: Milinda), 2nd century BCE, a king of the Indo-Greek Kingdom of Northwestern India who questioned Nāgasena about Buddhism in the Milinda Pañha and is said to have become an arhat
• Mindon Min (1808–1878), last king of Burma and facilitator of the Fifth Buddhist council
• Emperor Ming of Han
• Mongkut, king of Thailand and founder of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya
• Prince Shōtoku (574–622), mythologized crown prince and regent of Japan
• Theodorus (1st century BCE), Indo-Greek governor, author of a Buddhist dedication
• Wu Zetian (625–705), only female Empress Regnant in Chinese history
• Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝) (502–549)
• Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura (307 BCE–267 BCE), King of Anuradhapura
• B. R. Ambedkar (14 April,1981- 6 December 1956 ), Architect of indian constitution india

Modern teachers

See Wikipedia page for a list of modern teachers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Buddhists#Modern_teachers

See also

• Outline of Buddhism

References

Page is sourced from

www.encyclopediaofbuddhism.org List of notable historical figures in Buddhism