Nagarjuna died in 250 CE in India, aged about 100. An Indian Buddhist philosopher, Nagarjuna is regarded as the founder of the Madhyamaka, or Middle Way, school of Mahayana Buddhism. His principal work, the Mulamadhyamakakarika, argues that all phenomena lack inherent existence and arise in dependence on other things, an idea expressed through the concept of emptiness. This view aimed to avoid the extremes of eternalism and nihilism. His thought deeply influenced Buddhist traditions in Tibet, China and Japan. Little is reliably known about his life, and many later legends surround him, including a story that he recovered sacred texts from the realm of the nagas. The dates given are traditional approximations.
Before and after
- from 235 CE to 284 CECrisis of the Third Century
- 238 CEConstruction of Roman amphitheatre of El Jem
- c. 240 CEEruption of Ksudach
- 245 CERise of Neoplatonism
- 250 CEDeath of Nagarjuna
- from 250 CE to 538 CEKofun period
- from 266 CE to 420 CEJin dynasty
- 271 CEOrigins of Gundeshapur
- 271 CEConstruction of Aurelian Walls
More in Art, literature & culture
- c. 3,000 BCECuneiform
- c. 1,500 BCERigveda
- from c. 1,200 BCE to 150 BCEPhoenician script
- from c. 430s BCE to 470sStatue of Zeus at Olympia
- 284 BCEColossus of Rhodes
- 196 BCERosetta Stone
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century.