Kashmiri “Imperial Preceptor” Namo (or Nanwu) in China During Yuan Dynasty

Abstract

The Buddhist monk Namo (Nanwu), born in Kashmir, came to China during the Yuan Dynasty and was highly regarded by Emperor Xianzong (also known as Emperor Mengge) and honored as Imperial Preceptor, which ranked the highest in Buddhist monks. The place that Namo visited is in today's Zhengding County, Hebei Province. He was once the abbot of the Giant Buddhist Temple (also known as Longxing Temple) in Zhengding (a Prefecture at that time--added by translator). Namo was not only the first Imperial Preceptor of the Yuan Dynasty, who occupied an outstanding position in the history of Buddhism, but also selflessly funded the restoration of the Giant Buddhist Temple, which was recorded in the inscription of "Merit Record of Preceptor Nanwu of Dachao who repaired Longxing Temple, Zhending Prefecture", which is still preserved in Ci Shi Pavilion of the Giant Buddhist Temple.