05/26/2026
The Kumarajiva Project
Launched officially in 2019, the Kumarajiva Project is a groundbreaking endeavor to produce Chinese translations of texts in the Tibetan Buddhist canon that currently do not exist in Chinese. While the Chinese Buddhist canon is already profound, many texts are preserved only in other canonical languages like Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Pali. These are therefore inaccessible to Chinese readers at present.
The project’s Chinese name, 圓滿法藏·佛典漢譯 Yuan-Man Fa-Zang (YMFZ), conveys our mission to “enrich and complete the treasury of Chinese Buddhist scriptures.” Its English name, on the other hand, was chosen by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in honor of the great translator Kumarajiva (344–413) and reflects the aspiration to emulate Kumarajiva’s lifelong dedication to translating the Buddhadharma and making it widely accessible. Similarly, with the intention of reaching as many Chinese-speaking people as possible, the project works to translate texts into both classical and modern Chinese. We also arrange online programs and activities in the hope that even more people will have the chance to appreciate the wisdom contained in the Buddhist texts.
The Tibetan Buddhist canon consists of two major categories: the Kangyur—the collected words of the Buddha, and the Tengyur—the treatises (shastras) and commentaries that interpret and elaborate upon those teachings and the philosophical foundations as preserved in Tibetan. The history of translating Buddhist texts into Chinese is long and well established, with numerous translated texts already in existence. Nevertheless, many texts that were transmitted to Tibet have yet to appear in the Chinese-speaking world.
“The Buddhism that exists in the Chinese language ends up becoming very important. It’s like you have fire and you want to make more fire. This is the source of fire, so trying to keep this source alive [is important]. And then you can make more fire from here. In my mind, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tibetan, Chinese, these are like the source. … So, that’s sort of the underlying motivation to keep this alive. … It would be heart-breaking to forget these sutras, so we will have to do it (translate them).”
— Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
If we think of the Chinese Buddhist corpus as a massive puzzle, then what we are striving to do is to bring it closer to completion. Each piece is equally vital to the whole, as the Buddha taught according to the capacities of his audience, offering different teachings suited to different times, places, and beings. These pieces illuminate one another, serving as mutual points of reference. For this reason, every teaching of the Buddha is worthy of being preserved, translated, and transmitted. It is this conviction that sustains us as we continue along this path.
The Buddha realized the true nature of all phenomena, and each text carries his insight as expressed from different perspectives. The translation of a single new text not only brings the puzzle closer to completion but also opens up possibilities for readers to engage in dialogues between new and already existing texts. This allows readers to more fully appreciate the Buddha’s all-encompassing wisdom and to deepen their confidence in the dharma.
To further our translation efforts, the Kumarajiva Project integrates the traditional way of studying the texts with the work of translation, requesting oral explanations from khenpos or other learned teachers after the first draft has been prepared. In so doing, we seek to foster continuity and coherence between newly translated works and the existing Chinese canon, while also bringing readers closer to the texts.
Over the years, we have already produced a substantial body of translated works. We are also committed to training a new generation of Tibetan-to-Chinese translators to ensure the quality of translations into the future. Looking ahead, we will continue to connect with senior translators, nurture a new generation of translators, build collaborative teams, and expand participation—all in the spirit of contributing to the living treasury of the Buddha’s teachings, piece by piece.
Contributed by Pema Namgyal, editor, The Kumarajiva Project
