서기 50년 ~ 300년

쿠싼 왕조의 첫 번째 왕은 쿠잘라(Kujala) - 카드피시스(Kadphises)라고 알려진 - 였다. 그는 위대한 전사였다. 그가 죽은 후 그의 아들 위마 카드피시스(Wima Kadphises)(카드피시스 2세)는 아버지의 왕위를 계승했다. 그는 왕위에 오른 후 인도의 북서부 지역을 점령하였고, 그 과정에서 북서부의 사카 사트렙(Saka Satrap) 왕국을 무너뜨렸다. 지금의 펀잡(Punjab)과 신드(Sind) 지역이 그가 통치하던 지역이다.
![]() |
쿠싼 왕조의 영토 |
서기 120년. 카니쉬카의 집권

카니쉬카스 왕, 그 후 쿠싼의 몰락
카니쉬카 왕의 바로 다음 왕은 바쉬스카(Vashiska)이다. 그리고 그 다음 왕은 후비쉬카(Huvishka)이다. 이러한 왕위계승 과정을 거치면서 마뚜라(Mathura)지역은 쿠싼 왕국의 중심지로 부상했다. 후비쉬카 왕의 집권당시 수많은 기념비들이 세워졌다. 쿠싼 왕조의 마지막으로 위대한 왕은 바수데브 1세(Vasudev 1)이었다.
그 후 쿠싼 왕조는 북서부 지역의 페르시아-사싸니아인(Sassanians)들과 북쪽의 굽타인(Guptas)들에 의해 무너졌다. 쿠싼 왕조의 붕괴 시키는 남쪽의 사타바한 왕국(Satavahans)의 붕괴시기와 거의 일치한다.
쿠싼 왕조의 불교
카니쉬카왕은 집권 기간 중간 쯤에 불교를 수용했다. 그는 불교 신자가 되기 전까지 조로아스터교 신자였다고 전해진다. 그는 불교 신자가 된 이후, 불교 전파에 힘썼다. 당시 새로 생겨난 마하야나(Mahayana)라는 종교는 불교의 새로운 형태로써, 불교와 똑같이 부처를 숭배하는 종교이다. 당시 많은 낡은 수도원들이 수리되었고, 새로운 많은 사원들이 생겨났다.
쿠싼 왕조의 예술, 과학, 그리고 문학

카니쉬카 왕의 궁전은 아쉬바고샤(Ashvaghosha), 바수미트라(Vasumitra), 나가리우나(Nagariuna), 차라카(Charaka) 등과 같은 많은 학자들에 의해 장식되었다. 아쉬바고샤는 위대한 시인이자 음악가였으며, 부처의 일생을 기록한 부다차리따(Buddhacharita)라는 책을 썼다. 차라카는 위대한 의사였는데, 그는 아유베르다 의술에 대해 저술한 차락 삼히따(Charak Samhita)라는 책을 썼다.
(원문)
[AD 50 - 300]
AD 50: Establishment of Kushans
The Kushans were a branch of the nomadic Yeuhchi tribe of China. The Yeuhchi tribe was in conflict with another tribe and so was forced to leave China. They came to Central Asia and then spread to Bactria, Paritha and Afghanistan. Gradually they were divided into five branches. One of these branches -- Kouel Chougang (Kushans) -- was superior to all. The Kushans under Kujala attacked the Parithans, took possessions of Ki-pin and Kabul and became the complete master of the Indian borderland.
Kujala became the first king of the Kushans and was known as Kadphises I. He was a great warrior. He was succeeded by his son Wima Kadphises known as Kadphises II. He conquered the north-western region of India. He defeated Saka Satraps in the north-west. Punjab and Sind were his dominions.
AD 120: Reign of Kanishka
Kanishka was the most famous of the Kushan kings. It is not known how he became the king but he ascended the throne in AD 120. When Kanishka ascended the throne, his empire consisted of Afghanistan, Sind, Punjab and portions of the former Parithan and Bactrian kingdoms. His empire extended from the north-west and Kashmir, over most of the Gangetic valley. He annexed three provinces of the Chinese empire, namely, Tashkand, Khotan and Yarkhand. He was the only king who ruled over these territories. He had two capitals at Purushpura (Peshawar now in Pakistan) and at Mathura in west Uttar Pradesh. Kanishka proved that he was a great conqueror.
Successors of Kanishka
Kanishka's immediate successor was Vashiska who was then succeeded by Huvishka. Mathura became the centre of Kushans. Many monuments were erected during Huvishka's reign. The last great king of Kushans was Vasudev I. The Kushans were overthrown by the Sassanians of Persia in the north-west and the Guptas in the north. The rule of Kushans ended almost at the same time as that of the Satavahans in the south.
Buddhism during the Kushans
Kanishka embraced Buddhism towards the middle of his reign. He is said to have been Zoroastrian before he became Buddhist. He spent his resources in spreading Buddhism. Mahayana was the new form of Buddhism that was followed during this period where the Buddha was worshipped as God. Old monasteries were repaired and many new ones were built.
Art, Science and Literature
Kanishka was a great patron of art and literature. A new form of art Gandhara Art was developed. Beautiful images of Buddha were developed in a Greek-Roman style. These images were carved in a realistic way, with graceful bodies and curly hair.
Kanishka's court was adorned by many scholars like Ashvaghosha, Vasumitra, Nagarjuna and Charaka. Ashvaghosha was a great poet and a master of music. He wrote Buddhacharita, a biography of the Buddha. Charak was a great physician and he wrote a book Charak Samhita, which is based on the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Copyright : Indhistory.com
번역 : 김태훈
※ 쿠싼왕조 연표 ※
89-105 AD
Kushan king repulsed by the Chinese General Pan Chao
148-170AD
An-Shih-Kao translates a work by Kanishka's Chaplain
152 AD
China loses Khotan
230 AD
The Yueh chi king Vasudeva sends an embassy to China
276-293AD
Sassanian conquest of parts of North-West India
국경지역, 지배권(주권), 왕위에 오르다, 부가하다/(영토등을)합병하다, 뒤집어 엎어지다, 포용하다/수용하다, 수도원, 후원자, 우아한, 장식되다/꾸며지다.