A History of Indian Literature v2.c25.2

v2.c25.2

The date of the reign of King Kaniṣka is of the utmost importance for the study of the History of Buddhism and Buddhist literature. Now though there are numerous dated coins of Kaniṣka, and inscriptions in which Kaniṣka is mentioned, there is no sure means of determining according to which era these dates should be reckoned. There are also traditions about Kaniṣka in Tibet, China and Mongolia. Deriving their material from Indian sources, the Chinese give much edifying information concerning Kaniṣka, but they do not give us any synchronisms with Chinese History. Hence even now we have nothing beyond hypotheses as to Kaniṣka’s time. Epigraphical, numismatical, archaeological and literary evidence points more and more to the 2nd century A. D. as the time when Kaniṣka reigned, and to round about 125 A. D. as the probable date of his accession. The view, still maintained by a few scholars, that Kaniṣka is the founder of the Śaka era, which began in 78 A. D., is less likely to be correct.