A transliteration of the name of Kuma^raji^va （344-413）， often abbreviated as luoshi 罗什. He was from a noble family of Kucha. As a scholar-monk， he first studied the "Hi^naya^na" 小乘 teachings and later became a Maha^ya^na 大乘 adherent， and a specialist in the Ma^dhyamika 中观派 doctrine of Na^ga^rjuna. He came to Changan in 402， and with the aid of numerous collaborators and assistants， became one of the most prolific translators of Buddhist texts in history， rendering some 72 texts into Chinese. Among the most important of these are the Diamond Sutra 金刚经， Amita^bha-su^tra， Lotus Sutra 法华经， Vimalaki^rti-nirde/sa-su^tra 维摩经， Madhyamaka-ka^rika^ and the Maha^-prajn~a^pa^ramita^-/sa^stra. His translation was distinctive， possessing a flowing smoothness that reflects his prioritization on the conveyance of the meaning as opposed to precise literal rendering. Because of this， his renderings of seminal Maha^ya^na texts have often remained more popular than later， more exact translations.