Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s4.t2.35

v1.c7.s4.t2.35

Yao Chang of Later Qin also admired the name of Kumārajīva and repeatedly invited him modestly. But Lu Guang and his successors, Lu Zuan and Lu Long were jealous of his wisdom and capability and feared that he would be used by Yao Chang and did not want to let him travel to the east. Later, Yao Chang died and his son, Yao Xing, succeeded the throne. In May of the third Hongshi year of Later Qin (401 CE), Yao Xing sent Duke Longxi Yao Shuode to conquer Lv Long in the west. Kumārajīva was not invited at the border until Lu Long surrendered in September. He reached Chang’an on December 20. Yao Xing treated him with the etiquettes of a state master and offered preferential respect. At this point, Kumārajīva was detained outside the border for nearly 20 years and he himself was already 58-years-old. Yao Xing “worshipped *Triratna* since young age” and after the succession to the throne, he made great efforts to foster Buddhism. After Kumārajīva came, he talked with him all day long without pause. Under the urge of Yao Xing, Kumārajīva did not mind his old age and soon was devoted to teaching in the central plains. In over a decade’s time, he was diligent in translating a large number of classics. As he was kind in nature, modest and a good teacher, he was very popular among the believers. His handsome and elegant appearance and the clear and proud experience won the warm worship of the Buddhists and laymen. Yao Xing often said to him, “You, the master, are intelligent and with genius which is unmatched in the world. After your life, the Buddhism blood will have no heir. How could that be?” So he chose 10 prostitutes and forced him to accept. Kumārajīva had no way out but to leave the monk room and live in the official’s house, enjoying rich offerings and high rank. Breaking the sexual precept twice, Kumārajīva could not avoid being criticised by the people. The holy man image of Kumārajīva was also damaged. Later generations had sympathy for his vicissitude. Another legend even appeared in the Book of Jin, saying that at that time, some Buddhist disciples saw him living with a wife and in another house and wanted to follow his example. He summoned them together and put an entire pot of steel needles in front of them and said, “Those can imitate me can marry and live in another place.” And then he swallowed the needles as usual. All the monks were ashamed and refrained from these delusions. Such legends tried to persuade people that he had exceptional gifts which could not be measured with the common senses to speak for Kumārajīva. Later, Dao Xuan (596-667 CE) in his Dao Xuan Master Rapport Records, even said that Kumārajīva’s sutra translation was “unique and highly unmatched”. He was not an ordinary monk so he could conveniently do what he wanted. All the gossip in the streets about the corrupted commandment were nothing but average men’s prejudices which were simply “not worth commenting on”. Kumārajīva was not unaware of his violation against the commandment. So every time he taught, he would make confessions first, and hoped the listeners would see him as the lotus in the smelly mud as he taught, and just pick the lotus without the mud.