The Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp

The word Jingde (景德), the first two characters of the title, refers to the reign name of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, which dates the work to between 1004 and 1007 CE. It is a primary source of information for the history of Chan Buddhism in China, although most scholars interpret the biographies as largely hagiography. The lives of the Zen masters and disciples are systematically listed, beginning with the first seven buddhas (Gautama Buddha is seventh in this list). The "Lamp" in the title refers to the "Dharma", the teachings of the Buddhism. A total of 1701 biographies are listed in the book. Volumes 1 to 3 are devoted to the history of Indian Buddhism, and the history of Buddhism in China starts in chapter 4 with Bodhidharma. Volume 29 is a collection of gathas, and volume 30 is a collection of songs and other devotional material.

The List of the Patriarchs

The Seven Buddhas

1. Vipashin
2. Shikhin
3. Vishvabhu
4. Kakusandha
5. Kanakamuni
6. Kāśyāpa
7. Shakyamuni

The Twenty-Eight Indian Patriarchs

1. Mahakāśyapa
2. Ānanda
3. Sanakavāsa
4. Upagupta
5. Dhritaka
6. Michaka
7. Vasumitra
8. Buddhanandi
9. Buddhamitra
10. Parsva
11. Punyayasas
12. Aśvaghoṣa
13. Kapimala
14. Nāgārjuna
15. Kanadeva
16. Rahulata
17. Sanghanandi
18. Gayasata
19. Kumorata
20. Jāyatā
21. Vasubandhu
22. Manorhita
23. Haklena
24. Āryasimha
25. Bashyashita
26. Punyamitra
27. Prajñātara
28. Bodhidharma

The Six Chinese Patriarchs

1. Bodhidharma
2. Huike
3. Sengcan
4. Daoxin
5. Hongren
6. Huineng