In 402 CE the Central Asian Buddhist master Kumaarajiiva passed through Liang-chou and arrivedin Ch'ang-an, then capital of the later Ch'in dynasty. He brought with him both the method of mindfulness with buddha prevalent in Kashmir and the mindfulness with buddha samaadhi concentrating on the ultiamte mode of existence which came from Central Asia. Moreover, in his translation of the Vimalakiirtinirde'sa some important ideas about the creation of pure lands are introduced in the first chapter. All this provided an vital impet us for the establishment of the Pure Land School in China. It is therefore necessary to inquire into the substance of Chinese Pure Land learning prior to Kumaarajiiva –– which pure land scriptures were available at that time, what were the relevant concepts, which kind of pure land meditations were practised and who engaged in the spread of these teachings. Understanding this provides the basis on which it is possible to study how pure land thought developed in China after Kumaarajiiva's imported ideas had merged with the local tradition.
