Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t8.1

v2.c10.s3.t8.1

*Jatakamala* is an epic written in classical Sanskrit in the 4ᵗʰ century by the monk Aryasura, whose life is unknown. It consists of 34 *Jataka* stories and portrays a compassionate and merciful image of the Buddha, who is sympathetic with creatures in plight or despair, no matter who it is whether a king, a Brahmin, an ascetic, a monkey or a rabbit, and it also vividly describes the cultural life in ancient India from the life of the royalty to that of civilians or life in the cities or in the villages. It aims to propagate "paramita", which means to encourage