Kumarajiva Temple

On the sixth day of the trip, the third day in Wuwei, we visited the Kumarajiva Temple and Leitai Han Tomb in the morning, and prepared to leave Wuwei for Shandan in the afternoon. Kumarajiva (344-413) was originally from Tianzhu (now India) and was born in Qiuci (now Kuqa, Xinjiang). A prominent monk of the Later Qin Dynasty, he is considered one of the three greatest translators in the history of Chinese Buddhism along with Zhenti and Xuanzang. He became a monk at a young age, initially studying the Hinayana, and later learned the Mahayana, especially the Prajna, and achieved profound attainments. When Fu Jian of the Former Qin heard of his name, he sent Lu Guang to the west to defeat Qiuci and welcome Kumarajiva. After the fall of the Former Qin Dynasty, Kumarajiva stayed in Liangzhou for seventeen years, was revered as the state teacher, and began to translate Buddhist scriptures. Mahavairocana was well versed in Buddhist philosophy and proficient in both Chinese and Sanskrit. The Buddhist scriptures he translated were able to clearly express the original meaning of Sanskrit and were also fluent in flow. The words and sentences are elegant, and they opened a new era in the translation of Buddhist scriptures. According to the Kaiyuan Buddhist Records, Mahavairocana translated a total of 74 Buddhist scriptures in more than 380 volumes. This was the first large-scale translation of foreign scriptures in Chinese history, and became a great feat in the history of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. The sutras and treatises translated by Kumarajiva had a great influence. The translated sutras were comprehensive in meaning, faithful in content, and fluent in sentences. He advocated "returning to the essence of translation" and advocated the use of interpretation method for translation. He was the first to introduce Indian Buddhism to China in its original form. It has epoch-making significance in the history of Buddhist scriptures translation in China. The sutras translated by Kumarajiva, such as the Lotus Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, the Amitabha Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, and the treatises such as the Madhyamika Shastra, the Hundred Treatises, the Twelve Gates Treatise, the Mahaprajnaparamita Shastra, and the Abhidharmakosha, became the main scriptures based on which Chinese Buddhist sects such as the Three Treatises School, the Abhidharma School, the Tiantai School, the Pure Land School, and the Chan School were based, and promoted the spread of Buddhist culture. While translating Buddhist scriptures, Kumarajiva also often explained them. Yao Xing, court officials, and monks often listened with solemn expressions. All the ministers and nobles were impressed by his teachings. More than five thousand monks came from far away to give his lectures. A stupa was built in Yonggui, and a Prajna platform was established in the center. There were always thousands of monks sitting in meditation. "On April 13, the 15th year of the Hongshi reign (413 AD), Kumarajiva passed away in Chang'an, leaving behind his tongue relics. He also built a pagoda, which has survived to this day. This is the Tongue Relic Pagoda standing before us.