Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s4.t2.36

v1.c7.s4.t2.36

**His Sutra Translation Career** Buddhism, since introduced in China at the time of Emperor Ming of Han period (58-75 CE), had been more than 200 years. And its classics, through the continuous efforts of the translation masters of An Shigao, Lokakṣema, Dharmaraksa, et al, had been translated into Chinese. However, translated Buddhist scriptures exhibited not only language differences but cultural barriers as well. So during early practice, it was extremely difficult to carry forward. The translated classics often had a sluggish style of writing which made it labourious for the believers to read and understand. Because of this, the priority of Kumārajīva was to re-translate the important classics. And for those that had not been introduced yet, he was cautious to translate and introduce. Kumārajīva read through the old classics, and did find that there were “many absurd interpretations that were mistranslated and not corresponding to the original text.” In the fourth Hongshi year of Later Qin (402 CE), Kumārajīva was invited to translate the sutras in Ximing Garden and Xiaoyao Garden. He either recited complete classics by virtue of memory or translated based on the existing Sanskrit versions. Those who listened and assisted in the translation included Sengrui, Sengzhao, Daorong, Daosheng, Tanying, Faqin etc, who were the best selected for the work of that time. According to the descriptions of several monk biographies, when Pa¤caviü ÷ ati-sāhasrikā-praj¤āpàramità was translated, Kumārajīva held the Sanskrit version by hand and Yao Xing read the old sutra aloud to match and compare. All the new translations made by Kumārajīva, which were different from the old sutra, were fluent in diction, accommodating in argumentation, which made the congregation on the translation spot convinced in admiration.