Kumarajiva 344? - 413?

One of the greatest Buddhist sutra translators in China. Born in Kucha, Kumarajiva studied with Hinayana masters before he was converted to Mahayana Buddhism. Well known as a great Buddhist master even as a young man, he was Fu Jian's (r. 357-385) excuse for invading Kucha in the year 382. Kumarajiva was captured and held captive in Liangzhou for nineteen years. In 401, he was taken to Chang'an by the Later Qin ruler Yao Xing (r. 394-416) and commanded to translate Buddhist sutras into Chinese. Between some three dozen and six dozen translations are attributed to him, among which are the works that laid the foundation for three major schools of Chinese Buddhism.

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