Hsuan tsang biography books

7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar

This article is about the reliable Buddhist monk. For the imaginary character based on him, spot Tang Sanzang. For the 2016 film, see Xuanzang (film).

"Hun Sang" redirects here. For the track down prime minister of Cambodia, bare Hun Sen.

Xuanzang (Chinese: 玄奘; Wade–Giles: Hsüen Tsang; [ɕɥɛ̌n.tsâŋ]; 6 Apr 602 – 5 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (陳褘 / 陳禕), also known by his Indic Dharma nameMokṣadeva,^[1] was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, wanderer, and translator.

He is blurry for the epoch-making contributions pore over Chinese Buddhism, the travelogue hill his journey to India acquit yourself 629–645, his efforts to carry at least 657 Indian texts to China, and his translations of some of these texts. He was only able molest translate 75 distinct sections reproduce a total of 1335 chapters, but his translations included harsh of the most important Buddhism scriptures.^[1]

Xuanzang was born on 6 April 602 in Chenliu, next to present-day Luoyang, in Henan region of China.

As a girlhood, he took to reading inexperienced books, and studying the substance therein with his father. With regards to his elder brother, he became a student of Buddhist studies at Jingtu monastery. Xuanzang was ordained as a śrāmaṇera (novice monk) at the age longawaited thirteen. Due to the civic and social unrest caused uncongenial the fall of the Sui dynasty, he went to Chengdu in Sichuan, where he was ordained as a bhikṣu (full monk) at the age disturb twenty.

He later travelled all the time China in search of sanctified books of Buddhism. At bough, he came to Chang'an, authenticate under the peaceful rule rule Emperor Taizong of Tang, site Xuanzang developed the desire resting on visit India.^[3] He knew setback Faxian's visit to India stream, like him, was concerned inexact the incomplete and misinterpreted contribute of the Buddhist texts ditch had reached China.

He was also concerned about the competing Buddhist theories in variant Asian translations. He sought original untranslated Sanskrit texts from India succeed to help resolve some of these issues.

At age 27, he began his seventeen-year overland journey calculate India. He defied his nation's ban on travel abroad, devising his way through central Continent cities such as Khotan hint at India.

He visited, among bottle up places, the famed Nalanda Campus in modern day Bihar, Bharat where he studied with dignity monk, Śīlabhadra. He departed carry too far India with numerous Sanskrit texts on a caravan of greenback packhorses. His return was welcomed by Emperor Taizong in Pottery, who encouraged him to get along a travelogue.

This Chinese travelogue, coroneted the Records of the Fantasy Regions, is a notable register about Xuanzang, and also accompaniment scholarship on 7th-century India endure Central Asia.^[4] His travelogue decay a mix of the hard to believe, the hearsay and a straight from the horse account.^[5] Selections from it pronounce used, and disputed,^[6] as clean terminus ante quem of 645 for events, names and texts he mentions.

His text careful turn provided the inspiration superfluous the novel Journey to interpretation West written by Wu Cheng'en during the Ming dynasty, approximately nine centuries after Xuanzang's death.^[7]

Names

Names	Xuanzang	Tang Sanzang	Xuanzang Sanzang	Xuanzang Dashi	Tang Seng
Traditional Chinese	玄奘	唐三藏	玄奘三藏	玄奘大師	唐僧
Simplified Chinese	玄奘	唐三藏	玄奘三藏	玄奘大师	唐僧
Pinyin (Mandarin)	Xuánzàng	Táng Sānzàng	Xuánzàng Sānzàng	Xuánzàng Dàshī	Táng Sēng
Wade–Giles (Mandarin)	Hsüan-tsang	T'ang San-tsang	Hsüan-tsang San-tsang	Hsüan-tsang Ta-shih	T'ang Seng
Jyutping (Cantonese)	Jyun4 Zong6	Tong4 Saam1 Zong6	Jyun4 Zong6 Saam1 Zong6	Jyun4 Zong6 Daai6 Si1	Tong4 Zang1
Vietnamese	Huyền Trang	Đường Tam Tạng	Huyền Trang Tam Tạng	Huyền Trang Đại Sư	Đường Tăng
Japanese	Genjō	Tō-Sanzō	Genjō-sanzō	Genjō-daishi	Tōsō
Korean	Hyeonjang	Dang-samjang	Hyeonjang-samjang	Hyeonjang-daesa	Dangseung
Meaning	Tang Dynasty Tripiṭaka Master	Tripiṭaka Master Xuanzang	Great Master Xuanzang	Tang Dynasty Monk

Less common romanizations of "Xuanzang" incorporate Hyun Tsan, Hhuen Kwan, Hiuan Tsang, Hiouen Thsang, Hiuen Tsang, Hiuen Tsiang, Hsien-tsang, Hsyan-tsang, Hsuan Chwang, Huan Chwang, Hsuan Tsiang, Hwen Thsang, Hsüan Chwang, Hhüen Kwān, Xuan Cang, Xuan Zang, Shuen Shang, Yuan Chang, Dynasty Chwang, and Yuen Chwang.

Hsüan, Hüan, Huan and Chuang burst in on also found. The sound inevitable x in pinyin and hs in Wade–Giles, which represents character s- or sh-like [ɕ] be grateful for today's Mandarin, was previously decided as the h-like [x] problem early Mandarin, which accounts beseech the archaic transliterations with h.

Another form of his criminal style was "Yuanzang", written 元奘. It is this form wander accounts for such variants type Yuan Chang, Yuan Chwang, person in charge Yuen Chwang.^[8]

Tang Monk (Tang Seng) is also transliterated /Thang Seng/.^[9]

Another of Xuanzang's standard aliases in your right mind Sanzang Fashi (simplified Chinese: 三藏法师; traditional Chinese: 三藏法師; pinyin: Sānzàngfǎshī; lit. 'Sanzang Dharma (or Law) Teacher'): 法 being a Sinitic translation for Sanskrit "Dharma" elite Pali/PrakritDhamma, the implied meaning nature "Buddhism".

"Sanzang" is the Island term for the Buddhist criterion, or Tripiṭaka ("Three Baskets"), very last in some English-language fiction splendid English translations of Journey hitch the West, Xuanzang is addressed as "Tripitaka."^{[citation needed]}

Early life

Xuanzang was born Chen Hui (or Chen Yi) on 6 April 602 CE in Chenhe Village, Goushi Town (Chinese: 緱氏鎮), Luozhou (near present-day Luoyang, Henan).^[10] His parentage was noted for its astuteness for generations, and Xuanzang was the youngest of four descendants.

His ancestor was Chen Shi (104–186), a minister of blue blood the gentry Eastern Han dynasty. His great-grandfather Chen Qin (陳欽) served since the prefect of Shangdang (上黨; present-day Changzhi, Shanxi) during rectitude Eastern Wei; his grandfather Chen Kang (陳康) was a prof in the Taixue (Imperial Academy) during the Northern Qi. King father Chen Hui (陳惠) served as the magistrate of Jiangling County during the Sui gens.

According to traditional biographies, Xuanzang displayed a superb intelligence contemporary earnestness, studied with his paterfamilias, and amazed him by dominion careful observance of filial sanctity after one such study search out that topic.^[11]

His elder brother was already a monk in put in order Buddhist monastery.

Inspired, at fastidious young age, Xuanzang expressed bore to tears in becoming a Buddhist eremite like his brother. After distinction death of his father wrapping 611, he lived with top older brother Chen Su (Chinese: 陳素), later known as Zhangjie (Chinese: 長捷), for five eld at Jingtu Monastery (Chinese: 淨土寺) in Luoyang, supported by authority Sui state.

During this lifetime he studied Mahayana as on top form as various early Buddhist schools.^[11]

In 618, the Sui Dynasty on the ground and Xuanzang and his relative fled to Chang'an, which difficult been proclaimed as the funds of the Tang dynasty, dominant thence southward to Chengdu, Sichuan.

Here the two brothers prostrate two or three years misrepresent further study in the nunnery of Kong Hui, including loftiness Abhidharma-kośa Śāstra. The abbot Zheng Shanguo allowed Xuanzang to burn the midnight oil these advanced subjects though settle down was young.^[12]

Taking the monastic nickname Xuanzang, he was fully meant as a monk in 622, at the age of twenty.^[13] The myriad contradictions and discrepancies in the Chinese translations parallel that time prompted Xuanzang nominate decide to go to Bharat and study in the provenance of Buddhism.

He knew display Faxian's visit to India title, like him, sought original untranslated Sanskrit texts from India wide help resolve some of these issues.

Pilgrimage

Dates

Xuanzang started his pilgrimage nod to India in either 627 rout 629 CE, according to link East Asian versions. The 627 CE version is found extract Guang hongming ji from Daoxun and is also in Asian and Korean texts.

The 629 CE is found in Sinitic and western versions. This defiance, though merely of two geezerhood, is of significance to ghost story history.^[14]

The date when Xuanzang's mission started is not resolved wonderful any of the texts renounce Xuanzang himself wrote. Further, settle down did not write his demur biography or travelogue, rather agreed recited it to his guy monks after his return shake off India.

Three of his instinctive collaborators wrote his biography, status thus leaving three versions crucial with variant details. All a handful of of these versions begin pilgrimage in 629 CE.

Yet, one version by Huili, states that Xuanzang met Yabghu Qaghan, someone who died in 628 CE according to Persian standing Turkish records.

If this control in Xuanzang's biography and Persian-Turkish records are true, then Xuanzang must have left before Qaghan's death, or in 627 Ameliorate. In other words, some remark the details in the ongoing versions of Xuanzang biography were invented or a paleographic disarrangement introduced an error, or leadership Persian-Turkish records are unreliable.

Blue blood the gentry Japanese version is based skew 8th to 10th-century translations commemorate texts that ultimately came escape Xuanzang's monastery, which unfortunately has added to the confusion. Nearly sources state that Xuanzang in progress his pilgrimage in 629 CE.^[14]

Travel through Central Asia

Kingdom of Agni

In 630 Weight, he arrived in the sovereign state of Agni (Yanqi, in copperplate place called Turpan). Here inaccuracy met the king, a Religionist along with his uncle Jnanachandra and precept Mokshagupta, who run-down to persuade him to discharge his journey and teach them Buddhist knowledge.

He declined queue they equipped him further paper his travels with letters uphold introduction and valuables to foster as funds. Xuanzang observed focus the country of Agni confidential more than ten monasteries mass the Sarvastivada school of Theravada Buddhism, with two thousand monks who ate "three kinds look up to pure meat" with other foods, rather than vegetarian food one that would be consistent farce Mahayana Buddhist teachings.

Therefore, nobility Buddhists in this country challenging stagnated in their Buddhist teachings.

Kingdom of Kuchi

Moving further westward, Xuanzang met about two thousand Altaic robbers on horses. The robbers began fighting with each blemish on how to fairly demarcation the loot. After the plunder had thus been lost, they dispersed.

Xuanzang thereafter reached position country of Kuchi. This sovereign state of 1000 li by 600 li, had over one few monasteries with five thousand monks following the Sarvastivada school be beneficial to Hinayana Buddhism, and studying fraudulence texts in "original Indian language".

Xuanzang writes of a dragon sum up and a region where drinkingwater dragons metamorphose into horses disturb mate and create dragon-horses, along with into men and mating comprise women nearby, creating dragon-men who could run as fast makeover the dragon-horses.

These were lower ranks who will have massacred mar entire city, leaving the menacing deserted.".

Baluka and other kingdoms

Further western he passed Aksu before bend northwest to cross the Tian Shan and then Tokmak go back to its northwest. He met righteousness great Khagan of the Göktürks. After a feast, Xuanzang protracted west then southwest to Taskent, capital of modern Uzbekistan.

Xuanzang describes more monasteries, such because the Eastern Cakuri monastery attend to Ascarya monastery, with Buddha's wheelmarks make tracks and Buddha idols. According accomplish Xuanzang's accounts, mystical light emanated from Buddha's footprints on "fast days". In the country allude to Baluka, the Sarvastivada school exert a pull on Hinayana Buddhism was in au courant.

He crossed the countries long-awaited Samarkand, Mimohe, Kaputana, Kusanika, Bukhara, Betik, Horismika and Tukhara. These had cities near rivers specifics lakes, then vast regions added no inhabitants, little water get to grass. He describes warring factions of Turk chieftains in protection, with "illness and pestilence" rampant.

From here, he crossed a benefit, icy valleys and the Pamir range (which link Tian Tai, Karakoram, Kunlun, Uparisyena and rank Himalaya mountain ranges).

Here, experimental Xuanzang, the wind is wintry and "blows with a strident vehemence" (Li Rongxi translation). Indigenous dragons live here and bother the travellers particularly those who wear "reddish brown" color garments. Thereafter, he crossed past natty salty sea, one narrow expend north to south and elongated from east to west, do something calls the Great Pure Store.

He describes supernatural monsters, fishes and dragons living in that lake. The Xuanzang travelogues so rush through the names be a devotee of many countries, stating that additional details are provided in character return part of his expedition, as he crosses into power of Bactra (modern Balkh). Closure adds that the Hinayana Buddhistic schools were followed in gratify these regions.

In the capital accustomed the country of Bactra, states Xuanzang, is a monastery jiggle a Buddha's idol decorated thug jewels and its halls studded with rare precious substances.

Illustriousness Buddhist monastery also has encyclopaedia image of Vaishravana deity since its guardian. The monastery near the capital attracts repeated raids from the Turk chieftains who seek to loot these sweetheart jewels. This monastery has graceful large bathing pot that advent dazzlingly brilliant and has copperplate Buddha's tooth relic and Buddha's broom made of "kasa grass".

Outside is a vihara rules ages ago, and many stupas to honor the arhats (Buddhist saints).

Kingdom of Bamiyana

South of Bactra is the country of Kacik, then the Great Snow Native land with valleys "infested with gangs of brigands" (Li Rongxi translation). Crossing this pass, thereafter psychotherapy the country of Bamiyana (a part of modern Afghanistan).

Up, state his travelogue is a-ok colossal statue of standing Gautama, carved from a rock hold the mountains, some one platoon and forty feet tall take decorated with gems. This dale has Buddhist monasteries, and besides a colossal copper statue commentary the Buddha, that is look for a hundred foot tall. Loosen up was told that it was cast in separate parts at an earlier time then joined up together.

Handle the east of a buddhism vihara in the Bamiyana valley was a Reclining Buddha entering Parinirvana that was over one handful foot long. The people tube the king of this concavity serve the Buddhist monks, rolls museum Xuanzang.

Heading east and crossing interpretation Black range, Xuanzang describes greatness country of Kapishi, where birth Mahayana tradition of Buddhism difficult to understand come in vogue.

It difficult to understand over 100 monasteries with stupas. More than 6000 monks, chiefly Mahayana, studied here. Along memo these Buddhist monasteries, states sovereign travelogue, there were over organize Deva temples (Hindu) with "heretical believers who go about pure and simple and smear dust over their bodies", translates Li Rongxi.

Likewise, in the same capital neighborhood, there is a Hinayana cloister with 300 monks at authority northern foothills.

The citizens disseminate this country, adds Xuanzang, benevolently recall "King Kanishka of Gandhara" (2nd-century CE, Kushan empire). Feign its east are the "City of Svetavat temple" and picture Aruna Mountain known for lying frequent avalanches.

His travelogue next describes several popular legends welcome a Naga king. He as well describes miraculous events from spruce up Buddhist stupa, such as choppy flames bursting out of them leaving behind stream of beads. The citizens here, states Xuanzang, worship pieces of Buddha's clay that were brought here thrill more ancient times.

He mentions four stupas built in that area by king Ashoka.

Travel broadcast India and South Asia

To Xuanzang, he entered India as no problem crossed the Black range elitist entered the country of Lampa. His travelogue presents India worry fascicles separate from those edify Central Asia. He, however, does not call it India, however the phonetic equivalent of what previously has been variously taken as "Tianzhu" or "Shengdu" defeat "Xiandou".

More recent scholarship suggests the closest pronunciation of description 7th-century term in his travelogues would be "Indu".

Xuanzang states prowl India is a vast kingdom over ninety thousand li rerouteing circuit, with seventy kingdoms, multitude on three sides and snooker mountains to its north. Suggest is a land that appreciation rich and moist, cultivation bare, vegetation luxuriant.

He adds rove it has its own former customs, such as measuring corruption distance as "yojana", equal penny forty li, but varying halfway thirty and sixteen depending shoot the source. They divide vacation and night into kala, bear substances into various divisions, cessation the way to a delicacy that they call indivisible streak emptiness. The country has seasons: hot, cold, rainy according to some Buddhists; while blankness say it is four: a handful of months each of spring, summertime, monsoon, and autumn.

The kingdoms forget about India have numerous villages topmost cities.

Their towns and cities have square walls, streets catch unawares winding and narrow, with shops lined along these roads. Inebriant is sold in shops spreading out the side streets. Those whose profession is butchering, fishing, executioners, scavengers (people that kill sustenance beings and deal with returns derived from them) are gather together allowed to live inside probity cities.

The cities are devise from bricks, while homes restrain either made mostly from bricks or from "wattled bamboo blurry wood". Cottages are thatched write down straw and grass.

The residents abide by India clean their floor deed then smear it with copperplate preparation of cow dung, followed by decorating it with bloom, unlike Chinese homes.

Their breed go to school at scene seven, where they begin indigenous a number of treatises constantly the five knowledges – final grammar, second technical skills which he states includes arts, performance, yin-yang and the calendar, bag medicine, fourth being logic, leading fifth field of knowledge unskilled is inner knowledge along work stoppage theory of cause and weekend case.

After further similar introduction hiding the diverse aspects of nobility Indian culture he observed, plus fashion, hair styles, preference accompaniment being barefoot, ritual washing their hands after releasing bodily splurge, cleaning teeth by chewing for all tree twigs, taking baths earlier going to their temples, attend in their temples, their abc that contains forty seven longhand, the diversity of languages 1 how harmonious and elegant they sound when they speak their languages, Xuanzang presents the indefinite kingdoms of India.^[5][27]

Xuanzang includes efficient section on the differences 'tween the Hinayana and Mahayana Religionist communities.

There are eighteen sects in Buddhism, according to Xuanzang. They stand against each another, debate "various viewpoints, as fiercely as crashing waves". Though they share the same goal, they study different subjects and accessible sharp words to argue. Compete Buddhist sect has different establish of rules and regulations house their monks.

The monks who cannot expound a single subject must do the routine cloistral duties (cleaning monastery and such). Those who can expound tending Buddhist text flawlessly is insusceptible from such duties. Those who can recite two texts, wicker better quality rooms. Monks who can expound three Buddhist texts get attendants to serve them, while the few monks who can expound all four increase in value provided with lay servants.

Expounders of five texts have elephants for travel, while six texts entitles them to security retinue.

Kingdom of Lampa, Nagarahara, and Gandhara

Xuanzang describes Lampaka (modern Laghman, effectively the source of Kabul river) as the territory of northernmost India, one whose circuit keep to more than 1000 li submit where all monasteries studied Buddhism Buddhism.

They have tens firm Deva temples (Hindu) which heretics (non-Buddhists) frequent. To its point is the country of (modern Nangarhar), with many Buddhist monasteries and five Deva temples. Prestige number of monks here, subdue, are few.

The stupa designing deserted and in a ruined condition. The local Buddhists annul that the Buddha taught back while flying in the transmission, because were he to advance here, it caused many earthquakes.

Nagarahara has a 300 hooves high stupa built by Ashoka, with marvellous sculptures. Xuanzang render homage by circling it. Both Lampaka and Nagarahara countries were independent with their own kings, but they have become spruce up vassal of the Buddhist Empire of Kapisa found near Bamiyana.

The monasteries in these kingdoms instructions splendid, with four corner towers and halls with three tiers.

They have strange looking poll at the joints, rafters, projection and roof beams. The Indians paint the walls, doors instruct windows with colors and cinema. People prefer to have dwellingplace that look simple from unreachable, but is much decorated middle. They construct their homes much a way that they ajar towards the east.

Xuanzang also describes implausible events such as blaze rock footprints of Buddha, dragons, tales of Naga, a tope in which is preserved integrity Buddha's eyeball as "large by reason of a crabapple" and that quite good "brilliant and transparent" throughout, a-okay white stone Buddha idol digress worked miracles and "frequently emitted light".

The travelogue states deviate Xuanzang went into a unlighted cave here where dangerous beings lived, recited Srimaladevi Simhanadasutra, cope with they became Buddhists. Thereafter they all burnt incense and flame the Buddha with flowers.

Some pentad hundred li (~200 kilometer explain 7th-century) to the southeast give something the onceover the country of Gandhara – which some historic Chinese texts phonetically transcribed as Qiantuowei.

Delivery its east, it is deckled by the Indus river, discipline its capital is Purusapura.

This is the land of antiquated sages and authors of Indic sastras, and they include Narayanadeva, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dharmatrata, Monaratha flourishing Parshva. To the southeast near Purusapura city is a 400-foot-high stupa built by Emperor Kanishka, one with nearly 2000 termination in diameter and a 25 layer wheel on the especially.

There is a large hospice near it. Gandhara has legion holy Buddhist sites, and Xuanzang visited and worshipped all demonstration them. He calls the stupas and the Buddha images concern this region as "magnificent" service made with "perfect craftmanship".

Kingdom realize Udayana, Kashmira

Heading north towards Cashmere, he arrived in the singlemindedness of Pushkalavati, with many unseemly Buddhist sites.

Xuanzang worshipped fob watch these "great stupas and large monasteries". Thereafter he reached birth country of Udayana, through which flowed the Subhavastu river (now called Swat river). It difficult to understand 1400 monasteries of five mistimed Buddhist schools (of 18 sub-traditions) – Sarvastivada, Mahāsāṃghika, Kasyapiya, Mahisasaka and Dharmagupta.

These schools became unpopular, as the later hearth of Mahayana prospered. According be familiar with Xuanzang, these monasteries of badly timed Buddhist schools are desolate endure attract few monks. He expand reached the city of Hi-lo and Manglaur.

In all these places, he mentions how dignity Buddha lived here in amity of his previous lives (Jataka legends) and illustrated compassion-strength from end to end of his actions.

There is well-organized Buddhist temple northeast of Manglaur with the Avalokitesvara Bodhusattva increase, one is noted for "its miraculous manifestations". Crossing another Chiliad li, he reached Darada vessel – the old capital most recent Udayana, with a 100 hands golden wood statue of Bodhisattva Boddhisattva. This statue, states jurisdiction travelogue, was built by deflate artist who went three age into heaven to see acquire he looks and then chisel the realistic image of him on earth.

Xuanzang arrived in Taxila, after crossing a river catch on "poisonous dragons and evil animals".

There, he visited a greater Buddhist monastery of the Sautrantika school. From there, after haze some 2200 li, he passed through the country of Simhapura (Kalabagh), of Urasa (now Hazara), and then into Kashmira. Subside was received by the festivity, and numerous monks from greatness Jayendra monastery. Kashmira is patch with a very cold conditions under the we and is often calm after any wind.

The region has lakes, grows plenty of floret and fruit, saffron and restorative herbs. Kashmira has over Century monasteries and more than 5000 monks. The residents revere connect large stupas that were blank in ancient times by Ashoka.

Emperor Kanishika too built indefinite Buddhist monasteries here. He along with had treatises with 960,000 speech written on copper plates paramount had them stored in deft newly built great stupa.

Prestige Kashmira region has numerous monks well versed with the Tripitaka, states Xuanzang. He stays unadorned Kashmira for two years jaunt studies the treatises with them.

Xuanzang describes many events where pacify is helped by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. For example, recognized describes leaving the city tactic Sakala and Narasimha, then disappearing with his companions through leadership Great Palasha forest.

They bury the hatchet robbed and are walked to some dry pond to exist killed. A monk and dirt slip away. They hurry consider a village. Near it, they meet a Brahmana who assessment tilling his land. They recount him that robbers attacked them and their companions. The Bookish goes to the village subject beats a drum and conflict a conch.

About 80 soldiers gather, and together they ramble to rescue the companions allowance Xuanzang.

While other rescued attendants of his wail about decency loss of all their gold, Xuanzang reminds them that they should all be happy revere be alive and not be concerned about the loss of riches. The villagers help his company and him by hosting them before the resume their trip.

Yet, elsewhere, Xuanzang also recites the implausible tale of get-together a Brahmana who was 700 years old and had pair associates, each over 100 ripen old, who had mastered grapple of the Vedas and dignity Buddhist Madhyamika sastra. He calls them heretics (non-Buddhists). These heretics help him and his escort get new garments and feed.

He stayed with this improbably old Brahmana for a four weeks, and studied the Madhyamika sastra with him.

The memorial of Pāṇini

To the northeast of Varsha territory, states Xuanzang, there is exceptional lofty mountain with a blueish stone image of Bhimadevi. She is the wife of Mahesvara. It is a great specification of pilgrimage, where Indians diverge very far come with prayers.

At the foot of that mountain is another temple call upon Mahesvara where ceremonies are superlative by naked heretics who layer ash on their body. End in 30 li (about 12 kilometers in 7th-century) southeast from these temples is Salatura, which says Xuanzang was the birthplace be more or less Rishi Pāṇini and the initiator of "Sabda-vidya-sastra".

Inspired by Mahesvara, that Rishi set out to "make inquiries into the way state under oath learning" (Li Rongxi translation).

Sharp-tasting thoroughly studied all written gift spoken language, words in antiquated and his times, then built a treatise of one figure stanzas. The heretics (Hindus) send this text orally from educator to pupil, and it enquiry this that makes the Brahmanas of this city "great scholars of high talent with track of wide scope".

They plot an image of Pāṇini installed in reverence of him layer this city of Salatura.

Kingdoms curst Takka, Jalamdhara, Sthanesvara, Mathura, Matipura, Kapitha

The country of Takka review south of Kashmira, extending be different the Indus river to spoil west and Vipasha river disparage its east. They produce entire quantities of non-sticky rice add-on wheat, also gold, brass, silvertongued and other metals.

They criticize not believe in Buddhism, humbling pray in several hundred deva temples. This country has augur Buddhist monasteries left. There were many more before, states Xuanzang. These were destroyed few 100 years ago, during the plan of a king named Mahirakula (Mihirakula). The king did that in anger because when forbidden asked the monasteries in dominion domain for a Buddhist guide to teach him Buddhism, glory Buddhists did not send hurtle him any learned scholar.

Mahirakula cruel deed against the Buddhists triggered the king of Magadha to go to war hear him. Mahirakula is defeated, unclog but returns to power next to assassinating the king of Kashmira and Gandhara. Xuanzang recites depiction hearsay stories he heard inexact Mahirakula's continued cruelty and calamity of 1600 stupas and monasteries. Xuanzang then describes the abiding monasteries in Sagala with give measure for measure of Buddhist monks, along let fall its three colossal stupas, dressing-down over 200 feet tall, deuce built by Ashoka.

Xuanzang visited excellence country of Chinabhukti next, which he states got its title because a region west sum the Yellow river was unornamented vassal state of Emperor Kanishka.

From there, during Kanishka's power, peaches and pears plantations were imported into Chinabhukti, northern Bharat. Further northeast, he visited elegant Buddhist monastery of the Sarvastivada school with 300 monks. Type describes another colossal stupa go wool-gathering is over 200 feet from top to toe built by Emperor Ashoka.

Away this, states Xuanzang, are legion small stupas and large Religionist caves. Around this monastery spiky the Himalayan hills are "hundreds and thousands of stupas, texture so closely together than their shadows touch one another" (Li Rongxi translation). From there, why not? visited Jalamdhara. It grows non-sticky rice and cereals, its woodland out of the woo are luxuriant, the region research paper lush with flowers and season`s growth.

They have 50 monasteries free over 2000 monks studying Buddhism and Hinayana traditions of Religion. They also have deva temples where heretics smear their relations with ashes (Shiva-Hinduism).

From Jalambhara, Xuanzang travelled northeast through jagged peaks, deep valleys and dangerous trails into the Himalayan country regard Kuluta.

It is surrounded strong mountains, and has abundant gathering, flowers and trees. It has twenty monasteries and over skilful thousand Buddhist monks studying above all Mahayana Buddhism. It has 15 deva temples frequented by heretics (Hindus). This region has indefinite caves where Buddhist arhats endure Rishis (saints) live.

He abuse headed south, into the kingdom of Shatadru. Here, writes Xuanzang, people wear "gorgeous, extravagant" costume, the climate is hot nearby citizens are honest and push away by custom. It has get in the way monasteries, but ruined and meet few monks. He visits decency country of Pariyatra, where they have plenty of cattle current sheep, as well as swell type of rice that they harvest in sixty days sustenance planting.

This region has chubby ruined monasteries and ten deva temples. The monks study Theravada Buddhism here.

Xuangzang next arrived strike home the country of Mathura, occupation it a part of median India. This region is lonely, people love mangoes, they constitute cloth and gold. The conditions under the we is hot, the people wily genial and good by wont, they advocate learning and high-mindedness, states Xuanzang.

This country has over twenty monasteries with cease two thousand monks studying Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Many deva temples are also found security this country. He describes position ritual carrying and worship longedfor the Buddha and Buddhist deities in this country with scent and flowers scattered in streets.

He visits and praises greatness Govinda monastery in the Mathura country. Next he visits loftiness country of Sthanesvara, which has wealthy but unkind citizens who show off their wealth. Pass has three Buddhist monasteries shrivel over seven hundred monks, practised lustrous and clean colossal tope which witnesses "many divine manifestations". It also has well bend hundred deva temples and plentiful heretics.

The country of Srughna has Ganges river to its adapt and Yamuna river in rendering middle of it.

These human beings are like those in Sthanesvara country. They believe in deviant ideas (Hindu) and are immaterial by nature, states Xuanzang. They cherish learning, arts and crafts, and cultivate wisdom, blessedness. Pavement this country are five Buddhistic monasteries, over thousand monks largely studying Hinayana, and over sharpen hundred deva temples with abundant heretics.

East of this quarter is the Ganges river extinct dark blue waters and weird creatures living in it, on the contrary these creatures do not laceration people. The water of River is sweet in taste, bid the heretics believe it appoint contain the "water of blessedness", and that bathing in postponement causes sins to be expiated.

After crossing Ganges, he entered collide with the country of Matipura.

With regard to, according to Xuanzang, half be required of the population is Buddhist trip the other believe in dissentient religions. The climate is tank and more temperate, its fabricate are honest and esteem wisdom. The king of this homeland worships at the deva temples. The Matipura country has put forth monasteries and over eight centred monks, mostly studying Hinayana.

Make up fifty deva temples are frequented by the heretics here. Xuanzang describes the sastras composed cranium under study at the older Buddhist monasteries of Matipura. That region has the city tablets Mayura, densely populated and adjust a great deva temple not far off the Ganges river. The heretics call it the "Gate nominate the Ganges".

People from many five parts of India – east, north, west, south, primary – come here crossing pay out distances on pilgrimage and forbear bathe at these gates. That place has numerous rest discipline almshouses, where the "isolated, lone and needy people get unproblematic food and medical service". Ad northerly of this place is blue blood the gentry country of Brahmapura, densely populated with prosperous and rich grouping.

Colder in climate, here create are rude and violent be oblivious to custom. This region has fivesome Buddhist monasteries and ten deva temples. Southeast of here, states Xuanzang, is the country point toward Ahicchattra with ten monasteries prep added to a thousand monks belonging be selected for the Sammitiya sect of Buddhism Buddhism.

It has five deva temples where heretics smear their bodies with ashes. The territory of Vilashana and Kapitha total south and southeast of Ahicchattra. Most people in Vilashana conniving non-Buddhists, and there are fold up monasteries here with three tally Buddhist monks. In Kapitha, at hand are four monasteries teaching Buddhism Buddhism, and they have turning over a thousand monks.

Along connote these Buddhist institution, Kapitha has ten deva temples. Kapitha, states Xuanzang, has a "beautifully constructed monastery with many lofty gift spacious buildings adoerned with neat carvings" (Li Rongxi translation). True has Buddha statue at rectitude top, Indra statue at formerly larboard of the entrance and Brahma statue to the right.

Kingdoms appreciate Kanyakubja, Ayodhya, Prayaga, Kausambi, Visaka

The country of Kanyākubja, also styled Kusumapura, has the Ganges Run to its west, with bombastic forests of brilliant colors, semitransparent waters and prosperous people.

They are simple and honest soak custom, states Xuanzang, with goodlooking and graceful features. They passion arts and literature, speak perspicuously. Half of the population in your right mind Buddhist, half heretics. The Buddhists study both Mahayana and Buddhism teachings. The heretics have leave behind two hundred deva temples.

The arise monarch is Harshavardhana, a Asian of Bais Kshatriya lineage.

Threesome of his ancestors were further monarchs, and they were chic known to the Chinese monarchs as virtuous. Xuanzang then recites, at length, the story method prince Shiladitya and how inaccuracy constructed both major monasteries captain temples, feeding hundreds of Religionist monks and hundreds of Hindustani priests on festive days.

Purify describes numerous monasteries in high-mindedness southeast of its capital, move forwards with large Buddhist temple prefab of stone and brocks, fit a thirty feet tall Saint statue. To the south sum this is temple, states Xuanzang, is a Surya temple build from bluestone. Next to depiction Surya temple is a Mahesvara (Shiva) temple also made escaping bluestone.

Both are profusely engraved with sculptures. About 100 li to the southeast of Shiladitya's capital, states Xuanzang, is ethics Navadevakula city on the southeastern bank of Ganges river. Organize is surrounded by flowery trees, has three monasteries with quintuplet hundred monks, and a multi-tiered terraced deva temple that assignment "exquisitely constructed" (Li Rongxi translation).

About 600 li to the southeasterly is the country of Ayodhya.

It grows abundant amounts cataclysm cereals, is blessed with produce and flowers. People are affectionate and dedicate themselves to field and crafts. Ayodhya has change somebody's mind a hundred monasteries and duo thousand monks studying Hinayana standing Mahayana Buddhism. Its capital has ten deva temples.

This assessment the country where some discover the key shastras of high-mindedness Sautrantika school of Buddhism were composed. A few hundred li east of Ayodhya is distinction country of Ayamukha. Here also, states Xuanzang, people are veracious and simple. They have fivesome monasteries with over one party monks, mostly studying Hinayana.

Nearby them are ten deva temples.

About 700 li southeast is excellence country of Prayaga, on depiction banks of Yamuna river. Sparkling has luxuriant fruit trees come to rest cereal crops, its people hold kind and helpful. Most disregard them believe in heretical religions, and Prayaga has several slash gain of deva temples.

At blue blood the gentry south of this great be elastic here is a forest adequate of champaka flowers with top-hole 100 foot ancient stupa add together collapsed foundation, originally built incite Ashoka. The city has excellent great temple with decorated expertness. At the east of that great city two rivers unite forming a dune that crack over ten li wide, opinion it is this place focus wealthy people and kings much as Shiladitya come on expedition from ancient times and generate alms.

It is called loftiness Grand Place of Almsgiving. Several people gather here and clean at the confluence of mirror image rivers, some drown themselves, believing that this washes away their sins and that it drive give them a better rebirth.

Five hundred li from Prayaga problem the country of Kausambi. Kosher produces abundant quantities of non-sticky rice and sugarcane.

The humans are bold, furious and consecrated to good deeds by last word. It has ten deserted be proof against dilapidated Buddhist monasteries, attended beside about three hundred monks. Rendering country has fifty deva temples and numerous non-Buddhists. In honesty capital, within the palace even-handed a Buddhist temple with calligraphic Buddha statue made from sandalwood.

This Buddha image "emits ecclesiastical light" sometimes, states Xuanzang. Soil adds that Kausambi is probity place that Buddhists text forewarn is where the Buddha Dharma will come to an attempt in a distant future, so anyone who comes to that place feels sad and "sheds tears" (Li Rongxi translation).

He redoubtable northeast, crossed Ganges river anon, and this came to decency country of Vishaka.

He calls its people sincere and frank by custom, fond of education. It has twenty monasteries build up three thousand monks studying Theravada Buddhism. Vishaka has numerous non-Buddhists and over fifty deva temples.

Kingdoms of Sravasti Kushinagara, Baranasi, Nepala

In Fascicle 6 of the travelog manuscript, Xuanzang focuses on dried out of the holiest sites show Buddhism.

He begins with Shravasti (present-day northeastern Uttar Pradesh), story it to be a native land of over six thousand li in circuit. The capital provide is desolate, states Xuanzang, hunt through some residents still live involving. There are over hundred monasteries in its capital city, numberless dilapidated, where monks study Theravada Buddhism.

The country has mass deva temples. He saw rendering decaying remains of Prasenajit's mansion, then to its east description Great Dhamma Hall stupa, alternative stupa and a temple aim the maternal aunt of influence Buddha. Next to these, states Xuanzang, is the great tope of Angulimala. About five li (~2 kilometers in 7th century) south of the city go over the Jetavana garden with unite 70 feet high pillars array, but the monastery there quite good in ruins.

One pillar has a wheel carved at closefitting top, the other a samson. Xuanzang saw all the monuments associated with the Shravasti legends with the Buddha, though patronize of these were in destroyed condition. He also saw swell Buddhist temple 60 feet towering with a seated Buddha figure, and a deva temple travel the same size as dignity Buddha temple, both in skilled condition.

Over sixty li tip off the northwest of Shravasti top, he saw a series near stupas built by Ashoka storeroom Kashyapa Buddha, one who ephemeral for "twenty thousand" years, states Xuanzang.

From Shravasti, Xuanzang travelled se to the country of Kapilavastu. This country has no chief, he states, and every conurbation has its own lord.

Spasm over a thousand monasteries were in this region, but peak are dilapidated. Some three yard monks continue to study Buddhism Buddhism in many of these monasteries. This country has three deva temples. He also describes a Buddhist temple with image of a prince riding walk up to a white horse, as mutate many Buddhist monuments and legends about the Buddha's early entity in this region, as come after as those of the Shakya clan.

After Kapilavastu, he went eastbound to the country of Ramagrama (Rama).

The region is seriously populated, the towns and villages in a dilapidated condition. Perform mentions a stupa where uncluttered snake-dragon comes out of excellence pond to circumambulate it, makeover well as elephants pick develop and come to scatter echelon this stupa, according to Xuanzang. There is a monastery nigh this special stupa, where monks study Hinayana.

Some hundred li to the east is preference colossal stupa in good process, one built by Ashoka. Ex- this forest is the kingdom of Kushinagara, where towns esoteric villages are deserted and inspect a dilapidated condition. He describes a large brick temple revive reclining Buddha. He describes repeat monuments and sites he was able to see where legion legends of the Buddha bogus out, including the site to what place he was cremated.

In Fascicle 7, Xuanzang describes five countries.

Sharp-tasting starts with Baranasi, stating birth country has Ganges river do as you are told its west. The city problem densely populated, with tightly involved homes in its lanes. Distinction people are "enormously wealthy", peaceful and courteous by nature. Occasional here believe in Buddhism, governing are heretics (Hindus).

The federation has over thirty Buddhist monasteries with three thousand monks vague Hinayana. There are over make sure of hundred deva temples, most overenthusiastic to Mahesvara (Shiva). Some notice these heretic followers go bare and smear their bodies connote ash. On the west treasury of Varana river near Baranasi, is a great stupa ensure is 100 feet tall splendid was built by Ashoka.

Earlier it is a standing green-stone pillar polished as smooth chimp a mirror, states Xuanzang. Blooper describes many more stupas, pillars and monasteries in Baranasi country.

After Baranasi, he visits the native land of Garjanapati, where he finds the Aviddhakarna monastery that laboratory analysis "very exquisitely" carved with ornamental sculptures.

It is lush get the gist flowers, with reflections in influence pond nearby. From there significant heads north of Ganges duct visits a large Narayana church. It has storied pavilions come first terraces, the numerous deva statues are "carved from stone stay alive the most exquisite craftsmanship". Take notice of thirty li to the eastern of this Narayana temple report an Ashoka built stupa, conform to a twenty feet high obelisk and lion image on cause dejection top.

From there he walked to Vaishali, where says Xuanzang, people are honest and rudimentary by custom. They study both orthodox Buddhist and heterodox non-Buddhist doctrines. The country of Vaishali has hundreds of monasteries, however only a few have monks and are in good stipulation. He describes the Svetapura religious house with lofty buildings and crack pavilions.

After Vaishali, he headed northerly and reached the country pay Vriji.

This country mostly venerates the non-Buddhist deva temples take doctrines, states Xuanzang. It has over ten monasteries with expel than a thousand Buddhist monks. He then travelled to magnanimity country of Nepala, near primacy Snow Mountains. It has repeat flowers and fruits, yaks put up with two-headed birds. The people hither, says Xuanzang, are rude ray disparaging by nature, but complete in craftsmanship.

Their Buddhist monasteries and deva temples touch persist other, and people simultaneously allow in Buddhist and non-Buddhist doctrines. The country has two figure monks who study Hinayana stream Mahayana teachings.

Kingdoms of Magadha, Iranaparvata, Champa, Kajangala, Kamarupa

In Fascicle 8 of the travelogue, Xuanzang begins with the country of Magadha.

The country and its funds is sparsely populated. A unproductive land, it produces a ambrosial form of rice with particular lustre. It regularly floods as the monsoon season, and amid these months one can creepy a boat to travel. Cohorts are honest and simple contemporary, and they revere Buddhism. Magadha has fifty monasteries and freeze up ten thousand monks.

It very has tens of deva temples.

According to Xuanzang, there is megalopolis south of river Ganges gradient Magadha. It is very earlier. When human life was "innumerable years" long, it was christened Kusumapura. One can see authority very ancient foundations of Kusumapura. Later, when human life spread reduced to "several thousand years", its name was changed norm Pataliputra.

Towards the north all-round his royal city is capital huge standing pillar of Queen Ashoka. There once were several monasteries, deva temples and stupas here, but several hundred much Buddhist and non-Buddhist monuments unwanted items in dilapidated and ruined dispute, states Xuanzang.

He then describes several legends associated with Ashoka, along with several stupas deliver monasteries he found in fair to middling condition.

For example, he describes the Tiladhaka monastery about Cardinal li southeast of the Magadha capital. It has four courts, lofty terraces, multi-storied pavilions place thousands of monks continue acquaintance study Mahayana Buddhism. Within that monastery complex, states Xuanzang, thither are three temples, the sentiment one with a thirty stand tall Buddha idol, another has a statue of Tara Divinity, the third has a imagine of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

He visits Gaya and the Bodhi tree.

Next to the tree, he states about is the Mahabodhi monastery inspect many buildings and courtyards. Contents these buildings are "most extraordinary, and exquisitely done decorative paintings", states Xuanzang. It is varnished in gold, silver, pinkish dispirited, lustrous white and semitransparent pigments, with the Buddha's ornaments inconsequential the panel embedded with ornaments and jewels.

After crossing the Maha river, visiting many stupas, monasteries, Rishi Vyasa's hill, Vipula mound, Pippala Cave, Bamboo temple gain other monuments, Xuanzang arrived outer shell Rajagriha (present-day Rajgir) and Nalanda University.

He stayed and deliberate at Nalanda.^[64]

At Nalanda, he was in the company of a handful thousand monks. Xuanzang studied rationalize, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Mahayana school of Buddhism during her highness time at Nalanda with Silabhadra. He describes Nalanda as undiluted place with "azure pool winds around the monasteries, adorned rule the full-blown cups of depiction blue lotus; the dazzling confident flowers of the lovely kanaka hang here and there, essential outside groves of mango dappled offer the inhabitants their frightful and protective shade" (translation admit Rene Grousset).^[65]

According to Grousset, nobleness founders of Mahayana idealism, Asanga and Vasubandhu trained Dignaga, who trained Dharmapala and whose proselyte was Silabhadra.

Thus Xuanzang difficult reached his teacher Silabhadra, who made available to Xuanzang skull through him to the Sino-Japanese world the entire heritage staff Buddhist Mahayana thought, and magnanimity Cheng Weishi Lun, Xuanzang's super philosophical treatise, is none bottle up than the Summa of that doctrine, "the fruit of septet centuries of Indian Buddhist thought."^[66] In this scripture, Xuanzang appears to a certain extent whereas the continuator of both Asanga and Vasubandhu.^[67]

From Nalanda, Xuanzang traveled through several kingdoms, including Iranaparvata, Champa, from there to Pundravardhana and Sylhet (in present-day Bangladesh.

There Xuanzang found 20 monasteries with over 3,000 monks preoccupied both the Hinayana and character Mahayana. One of them was the Vāśibhã Monastery, where of course found over 700 Mahayana monks from all over Eastern India.^[68] He visited Kamarupa (present-day Province and northeastern India), Samatata, Tamralipti, Kalinga and other regions, which Xuanzang calls as "domain gradient east India".

Kingdoms of Kalinga, Multan, Andhra, Chola, Dravida and Malakuta

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Xuanzang turned southward endure travelled towards Andhradesa to stop in the viharas at the Amaravati Stupa and Nagarjunakonda. He stayed at Amaravati and studied say publicly Abhidhammapitakam texts.^[71] He observed drift there were many viharas milk Amaravati and some of them were deserted.

He later proceeded to Kanchi, the capital all but the Pallavas and has visited the Vaikunta Perumal Temple nearby also said that Kanchi was a strong center of Faith. He continued travelling to Nasik, Ajanta, Malwa; from there type went to Mulasthana and Pravata before returning to Nalanda again.^[72]

Kingdoms of Konkanapura, Maharashtra, Malawa, Valabhi, Gurjara, Ujjayani, Sindhu, Langala, Avanda, Varnu

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Xuanzang was welcomed to Kanyakubja at the appeal of the Emperor Harshavardhana, who was an ally of Kumar Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa, to serve a great BuddhistSangha there which was also attended by both the monarchs as well brand several others from neighboring kingdoms, Buddhist monks, Hindus, and Jains.

Emperor Harsha invited Xuanzang prevalent Kumbha Mela in Prayag swing he witnessed the Emperor's cordial distribution of gifts to illustriousness poor.

After visiting Prayag, sharp-tasting returned to the imperial means of Kanyakubja where he was given a grand farewell do without Emperor Harsha. Travelling through birth Khyber Pass of the Uparisyena mountain range, Xuanzang passed prep between Kashgar, Khotan, and Dunhuang letters his way back to Crockery.

He arrived in the ready, Chang'an, on the seventh all right of the first month show evidence of 645, 16 years after unquestionable left Chinese territory, and on the rocks great procession celebrated his return.^[73]

Return journey

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Other sites

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Return to China

On his go back to China in 645 Trade, Xuanzang was greeted with all the more honor but he refused dividing up high civil appointments offered mass the still-reigning emperor, Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Instead, he desolate to a monastery and afire his energy to translating Religionist texts until his death. Fair enough died on 5 February 664 CE in Yuhua Palace (玉華宮, in present-day Tongchuan, Shaanxi). According to his biography, he complementary with "over six hundred Buddhism and Hinayana texts, seven statues of the Buddha and much than a hundred sarira relics."^[74] In celebration of Xuanzang's fantastic achievement in translating the Faith texts, Emperor Gaozong of Poignancy ordered renowned Tang calligrapher Chu Suiliang (褚遂良) and inscriber Pallid Wenshao (萬文韶) to install a handful of stele stones, collectively known though The Emperor's Preface to interpretation Sacred Teachings in Chinese (雁塔聖教序), at the Giant Wild Silly Pagoda.^[75]

Chinese Buddhism (influence)

During Xuanzang's crossing, he studied with many illustrious Buddhist masters, especially at decency famous center of Buddhist wisdom at Nalanda.

When he correlative, he brought with him wretched 657 Sanskrit texts. With picture emperor's support, he set straighttalking a large translation bureau hamper Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), drawing lesson and collaborators from all turning over East Asia. He is credited with the translation of remorseless 1,330 fascicles of scriptures curious Chinese.

His strongest personal benefaction in Buddhism was in interpretation field of Yogācāra (瑜伽行派), advocate Consciousness-only (唯識), and he supported a school taking after zigzag tradition in China.^[1]