Kumarajiva

Kumarajiva was an Indian scholar-monk who was originally from a noble family of Kucha. He first studied Sarvastivada teachings, and later became a Mahayana adherent, and a specialist in the Madhyamika doctrine of Nagarjuna. He was brought to Changan in 401 by the ruler Fujian, and with the aid of numerous collaborators and assistants, became one of the most prolific translators of Buddhist texts in history, rendering some 72 texts into Chinese. Among the most important of these are the Diamond Sutra, Amitabha-sutra, Lotus Sutra, Vimalakirti-nirdesa-sutra, Madhyamaka-karika and the Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra. His translation was distinctive, possessing a flowing smoothness that reflects his prioritization on the conveyance of the meaning as opposed to precise literal rendering. Because of this, his renderings of seminal Mahayana texts have often remained more popular than later, more exact translations.

Links:

• • http://www.acmuller.net/ddb Digital Dictionary of Buddhist (login as guest)