高僧傳 2.11

2.11

Kumārajīva's teachings having spread through the Western Regions and his fame reaching the eastern rivers, Fu Jian at that time claimed imperial title in Guanzhong. The king of the Anterior [Jushi] realm and the younger brother of the King of Kucha came together to pay court to Fu Jian. When Fu Jian granted them audience, the two lords told Fu Jian, "The Western Regions produce many rarities and treasures; we request that you dispatch troops to pacify them, so that they may submit to your rule." In the thirteenth year of Fu Jian's Jianyuan era, the dingchou year, in the first month, the Grand Astrologer memorialized, saying, "A star has appeared in the astrological sector of foreign lands; a person of great virtue and wisdom will surely enter to assist the Central Realm." Fu Jian said, "We have heard that in the Western Regions there is Kumārajīva, and in Xiangyang there is the śramaṇa Shi Dao'an; might it not be them?" He immediately dispatched an envoy to seek him. In the seventeenth year, in the second month, the King of Shanshan, the King of the Anterior [Jushi] realm, and others again urged Fu Jian to dispatch troops to march west. In the eighteenth year, in the ninth month, Fu Jian dispatched General of Valiant Cavalry Lü Guang and General of the Lingjiang Jiang Fei, leading the kings of the Anterior realm and of Jushi, at the head of seventy thousand troops, to march west against Kucha and the various states of Yanqi. On the eve of departure, Fu Jian held a farewell banquet for Lü Guang at the Jianzhang Palace, saying to Lü Guang, "Rulers govern in accord with Heaven, taking the love of the common people as their foundation; how could it be out of greed for their lands that we march against them? It is solely for the sake of those who possess the Way. We have heard that in the western lands there is Kumārajīva, who profoundly understands the marks of phenomena and is well-versed in yin and yang, being a master to later scholars; We deeply long for him. Men of virtue and wisdom are great treasures of a state; if you overcome Kucha, dispatch an express courier immediately to send Kumārajīva." Before Lü Guang's army arrived, Kumārajīva said to Bai Chun, King of Kucha, "The state's fortune is in decline; there will surely be a formidable foe. Men from under the sun are coming from the east; you should respectfully receive them and not oppose their vanguard." Chun did not comply and gave battle; Lü Guang thereupon defeated Kucha, killed Chun, and set up Chun's younger brother Zhen as ruler. Having captured Kumārajīva, Lü Guang did not yet fathom his wisdom and capacity, and seeing that he was still young in years, treated him with ordinary disrespect and jested with him, forcibly marrying him to the daughter of the King of Kucha. Kumārajīva refused and would not accept, pleading with utmost earnestness. Lü Guang said, "A Daoist's moral conduct does not surpass that of his late father; how can you stubbornly refuse?" He then made him drink strong wine and shut them together in a secret chamber. Under such extreme coercion, Kumārajīva ultimately compromised his discipline. At times Lü Guang also ordered him to ride an ox or a wild horse, intending to make him fall off. Kumārajīva constantly harbored endurance of insult (kṣānti), never showing any change in countenance; Lü Guang, feeling ashamed, ceased. Midway on his return journey, Lü Guang stationed his army at the foot of a mountain. The officers and soldiers were already resting when Kumārajīva said, "We must not stay here; we will surely meet with disaster. You should move the army onto the ridge." Lü Guang did not heed him. When night fell, heavy rain indeed came, torrential floodwaters rose abruptly to several fathoms deep, and several thousand died; only then did Lü Guang secretly marvel at him. Kumārajīva said to Lü Guang, "This is a place of ill omen and death, not suitable for lingering. Calculating fortunes and reckoning numbers, you should speak of returning quickly; midway there will surely be an auspicious place to dwell." Lü Guang followed his advice. Arriving in Liangzhou, he heard that Fu Jian had already been killed by Yao Chang; Lü Guang's three armies donned mourning garments, and he held a great lamentation south of the city. He then claimed imperial title outside the Pass, styling his reign era Tai'an.