The was one of the six schools of Buddhism introduced to Japan during the Asuka and Nara periods. Along with the Jà Âjitsu-shà « and the Risshà «, it is a school of Nikaya Buddhism, which is sometimes derisively known to Mahayana Buddhism as "the Hinayana".
A Sarvastivada school, Kusha-shà « focused on abhidharma analysis based on the Abhidharmakoà Âa-bhÃÂsya (Jap. é¿æ¯ÂéÂÂ磨å¶èÂÂè«Â, "Commentary on the Treasury of Abhidharma") by the fourth-century Gandharan philosopher Vasubandhu. The school takes its name from that authoritative text.
Names commonly associated with the Kusha-shà « are Dà Âshà  (éÂÂæ 638âÂÂ700), Chitsà « (æºé ?âÂÂ?), Chitatsu (æºé ?âÂÂ?), and Genbà  (çÂÂæ ?âÂÂ746).