iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research paper is made possible through the help and support from everyone,
including: parents, teachers, family, friends, and in essence, all sentient beings.
Especially, please allow me to dedicate my acknowledgment of gratitude toward the
following significant advisors and contributors:
First and foremost, I would like to thank Dr. Joshua Capitanio for his most
support and encouragement. He kindly read my paper and offered invaluable detailed
advices on grammar, organization, and the theme of the paper.
Second, I would like to thank Dr. Ananda Guruge and Dr. Darui Long to read
my thesis and to provide valuable advices, Dr. Keith Brown to reproof the paper, as well
as all the other professors who have taught me about Buddhism over the past two years of
my pursuit of the master degree.
Finally, I sincerely thank to my parents, family, and friends, who provide the
advice and financial support. The product of this research paper would not be possible
without all of them.

ABSTRACT

A Reappraisal of Kumrajvas role in Medieval Chinese Buddhism: An

examination of Kumrajvas translation text of The Essential Explanation of The
Method of Dhyna
By
Trung Huynh

For many centuries, Buddhologists have considered Kumrajva as a strong advocate of

Mahyna Buddhism and an equally strong opponent of Hnayna Buddhism. However,
this assumption is debatable. My thesis addresses this assumption to determine its
validity. Hence, I have reappraised his life, his role and contribution to Medieval Chinese
Buddhism, as well as the cultural and social environments prior and contemporary to
him. I especially paid attention to the translation of the meditation texts such as The
Essential Explanation of The Method of Dhyna, to find evidence that either supports or
disputes the assumption that Kumrajva was an advocate of Mahyna only. It is my
conclusion that Kumrajva not only advocated Mahyna, but also Hnayna Buddhism
throughout his life and works.

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Table of Contents

iv

Acknowledgement
Abstract

Part I. Analysis
1. Introduction

2. Background of Chinese Buddhism prior to Kumrajvas arrival in

Changan

3. Translators that preceded Kumrajva

4. Kumrajvas biography

5. His prolific translation works

6. His fame as an advocator of the Mahyna and the founder of

Chinese Mdhyamika Sect

10

7. Cultural and social influences of Sarvstivdin Hnayna .

13

13

7.2. Changan center .

14

15

7.1. Central Asian Buddhist communities

7.3. His collaborators of translation works

7.4. His disciples request of translation the meditation

texts

15

16

..

16

7.5. His competition with Buddhabhadra

8. His meditation texts

9. His translation texts of meditation The Essential Explanation of

The Method of Dhyna

..

19

9.1. Background of the text

..

19

9.2. Analyze and compare between the texts contents and

those of Pi Nikya ...
9.3. Determine Kumrajvas addition and revision of the

25

vii

..

38

9.4. The texts role and its influence ..

39

old version

9.5. Compare this text to other meditation texts that

Kumrajva had translated

..

40

9.6. Compare Kumrajvas translational meditation texts with

..

41

..

42

those of his prior and contemporary texts

10. Conclusion

Part II. Translation of the text, The Essential Explanation of The Method
of Dhyna

..

48

1. First Fascicle

..

48

2. Second Fascicle

..

99

Appendix A. Comparison between Kumrajvas new version of The Essential

Explanation of The Method of Dhyna

...

138

Appendix B. Chinese version of the The Essential Explanation of The Method of

Dhyna, ....
Bibliography ..

157
183