Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c8.s1.7

v1.c8.s1.7

Kumarajiva occupies a very important place in the history of Chinese translation. First, he translated a great number of Buddhist scriptures including 74 books and 384 volumes (Catalogues of Kai Yuan Buddhist Books - volume 4). Secondly, he paid full attention to his predecessors' success and failure in translation. He treated translation carefully and combined literal and free translation. Thirdly, unlike former translators who substituted concepts of Buddhist scriptures with metaphysical terms and words, he tried to innovate new and simple ways of expressions. He invented Buddhist terminology for translation more faithful to original texts. Fourthly, in order to be responsible, he started the rule to sign the translator’s name at the front of the translation. Fifthly, his institution set some guidelines to be followed by the government-run translation organisations of later times. And sixthly, most of the Buddhist scripture translated by him were preserved and had profound impact on posterity.