About the translation history with chinese buddhism, we can observe which place Xuanzang and Kumarajiva left in the history of translation. Firstly, we have to notice that Kumarajiva was born in the central city of Kucha while Xuanzang was born in Honan in China. Kumarajiva left an incredible volume of translation and from 402 to 413 he translated with his staff seventy-four works in 384 fascicles. Kumarajiva helped shape the history of medieval chinese buddhism and he also translated various type of songs and poetry. Kumarajiva translation's were florid and elegant even if he didn't preserved the original words of a sanskrit sutra, but they clearly express the intended meaning. Xuanzang, brought about back 657 sanskrit texts when he returned to China in 645. If Kumarajiva introduced the works of Nagarjuna through his translations, Xuanzang introduced and translated Yogacara and sarvastivada works. In a way, Xuanzang provided the essential works for the establishment of the Yogacara school in China. Regarding the translation, even if Kumarajiva translation were elegant, the ones from Xuanzang were the best in both quality and quantity. Actually, Xuanzang corrected the mistakes of the early translations of the Kosa and at the same time, he systematically introduced the thought of the Kosa.
However, they have a common things to share. The political power were eager to attract them. For instance, in 384, Fu Jian, the former Qin emperor was eager to get Kumarajiva at his court and he sent his general Lu Guang to conquer Kucha in order to bring Kumarajiva back while Xuanzang was welcomed with great respect and honor by Emperor Taizong in Louyang and he arranged for him to stay in Hongfu monastery in Changan to translate buddhist scriptures
Kumarajiva & Xuanzang
Kumarajiva and Xuangzang were indeed great translators during Emperor Yao Xing and Emperor Taizong's reign respectively. As both of them got the patronage of kings, the translation of Buddhist texts and scriptures could be carried out effectively. Kumarajiva was of mixed origin as his father was an Indian aristocrat who emigrated from Kashmir to Kucha where he married Jivaka, a Kuchean princess. Thus, his translations included various types of songs and poetry which were florid and elegant in style. As for Xuangzang who was from Chinese origin and who studied Sanskrit when he was in India, he could translate the Buddhist texts in a more sinicized way. For Xuangzang, his translation committee consisted of elite monks from all over China. Thus, in the history of Buddhist translation, Xuangzang's translations were considered the best in both quality and quantity. However, Kumarajiva's contribution to Buddhism was also great because his translations were the milestone in the whole history of Chinese Buddhist translation. His translations were also accurate and further stimulated the growth and popularity of Mahayana Buddhism in China.