Kanishka
fl. A.D. 78?-103?
Chinese Ruler
Kanishka is considered to be one of the most significant and important rulers of the Kushan Kingdom, an area that included the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly regions north of Kashmir in central Asia. During his reign he expanded the territory of his kingdom through a series of successful military campaigns, accumulated great wealth for his empire, built a considerable number of monasteries and temples, and encouraged the spread and adoption of Buddhism. Art, particularly Gandharan art, and culture also flourished under his rule.
It is not known when Kanishka was born. The dates of his reign are also subject of debate, but the most reliable dates seem to be from A.D. 78 to 103. Just how Kanishka came to power is also not known, but he succeeded Wema Kadphises II and was the fourth king of the Kushan. The Kushan Empire came into existence under Kajula Kadipheses in the north of India in Bactria, where Kadipheses unified the five tribes of the Yeuh-chi, who had fled the warring Hsiungnu from the Chinese frontier in 125 B.C. When Kanishka came to the throne, the Kushan Empire was already powerful, but he took it to new heights and made it one of the greatest nations of its time.
Under Kanishka, the Kushan spread their boundaries to include the area of present-day Afghanistan, northern India, and parts of middle Asia. The capital city of this kingdom was Puruhapura, or modern Peshawar, Pakistan. The empire flourished economically, as the Kushan were in contact with many of the world's most important civilizations, including Rome, China, and Parthia (a part of what today is Iran). Trade and commerce were encouraged and cities and urbanization followed. The ruins of a city established by Kanishka have been discovered under present-day Taxila, India. The Kushan also had a great deal of control over a major trade route known as the Silk Road.
Although much of the prosperity of the Kushan was gained through conquest, it is important to note the tolerance of Kanishka towards other cultures. Though Kanishka was a Buddhist, coins from that era, the Saka era, depict religious deities of Greek, Sumerian, Zoroastrian, and Indian origin. These cross-cultural influences were seen in the art of the Kushan, with images of Buddha depicted in Greco-Roman style in what is referred to as Gandharan art. These were the first visual images of Buddha. The school of Mathuran art also flourished under Kanishka, and was more indigenous to the area in its style. Kanishka was also a great builder, and monasteries and temples were built in great numbers, with most located in the capital. One of the monasteries was called by Kanishka Mahavihara (great monastery), and the ruins of a great temple commissioned by him can be found near modern Peshawar, Pakistan. This temple was 400 feet (121 m) high, and rested on a five-stage base that was 150 feet (45 m) in height. It was excavated in 1908 and 1909, and a casket known as the "Kanishka Casket" was discovered. It contained holy Buddhist relics reportedly placed there by Kanishka himself.
One of the most important contributions made during Kanishka's reign was the spread of Buddhism to central Asia and China. Kanishka probably adopted Buddhist faith later in life. Confused by conflicting doctrines within the Buddhist faith, Kanishka convened a special council under the Buddhist poet Asvaghosa. The council was held in Kashmir and became known as the fourth Buddhist council. The use of Sanskrit in manuscripts produced from this council was significant because it was the first time it had been used and was later to become thetradition. Kanishka adopted a form of Buddhism known as Mahayana, and was probably responsible for the spread of Buddhism into China, first noted in the second century A.D.
Military conquests marked Kanishka's rule, but the achievements of his empire were not limited to these exploits. Under Kanishka, the Kushan reached a new zenith in wealth and culture that highlighted art, architecture, literature, and science. The tolerance of the kingdom's ruler toward different cultures and religions placed allowed Kushan to benefit from the knowledge and wealth of some of the greatest civilizations of the time. As a result of such cross-cultural connections, the Buddhist religion owes much of its development and spread throughout Asia to Kanishka and the Kushan.
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