Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s4.t2.64

v1.c7.s4.t2.64

According to Buddhist texts such as *Biographies of Eminent Monks*, Buddhavarman was exceptionally gifted from childhood in ancient India. He disciplined himself rigorously and learned *Tripitaka* extensively. The monk especially understood *Abhidharma-mahavibhāśā-śāstra* thoroughly and took it as the core of all *sutras*. During Yuanjia Period (424-453 CE) of Southern Dynasty, the eminent monk arrived in Liangzhou (present-day Wuwei where Guzang served as the capital, west of Yellow River valley in Gansu). In the very beginning, Śramana Daotai had obtained the original *Abhidharma-mahavibhāśā-śāstra* containing verses totalling more than 100,000 characters from nearby Congling (present-day Pamirs) and brought it back to Guzang. He modestly waited for a really qualified translator. Buddhavarman was invited to translate the sutra as soon as Daotai learned about his arrival. From the lunar fourth month of 14ᵗʰ Year (437 CE) of Yuanjia