Caotang Temple is located in Caotang ying village in Hu County of Xian, Shanxi Province. It is the site of "Xiaoyang Garden" of YaoXing who lives in Latter Qin of Sixteen Kingdoms, as well as the place for scripture translation by western regions' eminent monk- Kumarajiva-the first national-esablished translation place for Buddhist scriptures in Chinese history. Caotang Temple was formerly known as "Qichan Temple", later changed the present name "Caotang Temple". The reason why it called "Caotang Temple" is because initially the eminent monks clustering at "Xiaoyang Garden", and then YaoXing establishes a temple in the garden, and temporarily built a thatched cottage. That's the history of the name "Caotang Temple". According to historical documents, the scriptures translated by Kumarajiva and his pupils totally reach 97 as well as 425 volumes, including Mādhyamika-sāstra, Sata-sastra and Dvādashanikāya-Shāstra. With the intoduction by Daosheng and Sengzhao, the three form early The School of the three Sastras. For this reason, Caotang Temple becomes the earliest beginning of The School of The three Sastra.

Kumarajiva, died in Hongshi 15th year in Later Qin (413 AD), buried in Caotang Temple. A tower was built and named by "Kumarajiva Temple Sarira-stupa", which still remained in the temple. Caotang Temple is also the place where Zongmi, the Wuzu of Hua-yen School, to be a monk and live. Zongmi was buried in Peak Guifeng of East Mountain after his death, so he was called "Buddhist monk of Peak Guifeng". As a result, Caotang Temple is also a treasured place for Hua-yen School to train monks.

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