Kumarajiva
Source: Wikipedia: Kumārajīva
Religious Figures & Theologians • Historical Archive • 🇨🇳 Kingdom of Kucha • 4 views

Kumarajiva 🇨🇳

鳩摩羅什 (Known as "Master Kumarajiva")
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Born c. 344 CE 🇨🇳 Kucha, Kingdom of Kucha
Passed Away c. 413 CE Chang'an, Later Qin
Lifespan 69 years old
4 views
Notice / Correction
"If my translations are faithful and free of errors, then let my tongue not be consumed by the funeral pyre."

Archival Overview

Kuchean Buddhist monk and scholar whose legendary translations into classical Chinese—including the Diamond, Lotus, and Vimalakirti Sutras—defined East Asian Buddhist literature.

Biographical Record

Kumarajiva (344–413 CE) was born to an Indian nobleman and Kuchean princess, mastering Sarvastivada and Madhyamaka philosophy across Central Asia before being captured by Chinese warlords.

Brought to the imperial capital Chang'an in 401, he directed a bureau of 800 scholars, creating translations prized for literary elegance and philosophical fidelity; his tongue miraculously resisted cremation flames.

Key Life Milestones

406

Translation of the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Pundarika)

Completed his peerless Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra, inspiring the Tiantai and Nichiren traditions.

413

The Miracle of the Unburned Tongue

Upon his cremation in Chang'an, his tongue remained intact amidst the ashes, confirming the precision of his translations.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Caotang Temple
Xi'an, China
GPS: 34.0708, 108.7614
View on Memory Atlas
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