Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t8.4

v1.c7.s10.t8.4

It is generally acknowledged that this school was originally proposed by the sage Kaṇāda (or Kana-bhuk, literally, atom-eater) around 2nd century BCE, who was also extensively referred to as “Youloujia” in Chinese Buddhist records. Most of the information about him contained in existing records is of a legendary, even mythical, proportion. For instance, *Bailun Shu* (Commentary on the Shata Shastra) describes the legendary figure as “Uluka, aka immortal of barred owlet, having been born 800 years earlier than Śākyamuni” and “fond of lecturing during the day and travelling at night. If you want to keep one, you must feed it in the night and it will eat with its family dependents”.