Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t18.1

v1.c7.s7.t18.1

Ajivaka or Ajivika, aka the “School of Wrong Livelihood” or the “Non-Buddhist School of Wrong Livelihood”, is a religious and philosophical school in ancient India. Originated roughly between 5^th and 6^th century BCE and initially comprised of a few prominent Samana thinkers active shortly before or after the birth of Buddhism, the school underwent some important transformations afterwards. Popular in India for over 2,000 years, it spread into China in the wake of Buddhism.