Kanishka (1st century ad), most famous emperor of the Kushāna dynasty who ruled much of northern India, modern Afghanistan, and other lands of Central Asia, and brought the great Kushāna culture of Gandhara to its peak. Like the Shakas, Kushānas were a nomad warrior confederation of tribes originating from Central Asia. A remarkable statue from Mathura depicting Kanishka shows him wearing the typical costume of Iranian horsemen of the Central Asian steppes: baggy trousers, heavy quilted boots, long coat, and buckled cloak. Much information is still unclear about the historical ruler Kanishka, as is the language and ethnic origins of the Kushānas. The year of Kanishka's accession is believed to have been ad 78, but even this basic fact is disputed. Kanishka is said to have reigned about 22 years. Although later Chinese Buddhist literature does record many legends about Kanishka, they are thought to be largely repetitions of pious tales and unsubstantiated speculation by Buddhist monks of India.

During his reign, Kanishka controlled the overland Silk Road between China and Rome through the trade center at Taxila; this brought with it considerable prosperity from trade with the Roman Empire, including luxury objects such as carved ivories and glass from Egypt as well as gold and silver. The splendid gold coinage of Kanishka, which used the Roman weight standard, featured deities from many cults of the period, especially Zoroastrianism. Kanishka was also associated with Buddhism as founder of a Buddhist monastery and great stupa at Peshāwar (given the dynastic name “Kanishkapura”), capital of Gandhara region. The famous Kanishka casket, a masterpiece of Kushāna metalwork, was found during excavations in Peshāwar in 1908. Although it is actually uncertain whether Kanishka himself converted to Buddhism, he was a great patron of the religion. He is credited with convening the fourth great Buddhist council at Jālandhar Kashmīrthat marked the development of Mahayana Buddhism, which spread rapidly under the Kushāna rulers from India across Central Asia to China.