Ancient-education/Philosophers and Scholars/Xuanzang

Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang): The Great Chinese Buddhist Pilgrim and Scholar of Nalanda

Overview

Hiuen Tsang, also known as Xuanzang (602–664 CE), was a distinguished Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler during the Tang Dynasty. He is celebrated for his 16-year journey to India, undertaken to study Buddhist philosophy at its source and bring sacred scriptures back to China. His meticulous records of India’s political, social, and religious conditions during King Harsha Vardhana’s reign serve as one of the most authentic historical accounts of 7th-century India. A scholar of immense dedication, Hiuen Tsang played a pivotal role in bridging Chinese and Indian cultural exchanges and in spreading Buddhism across Asia.

Early Life and Journey to India

Born in Luozhou (modern-day Henan Province, China), Hiuen Tsang was raised in a scholarly family and became a Buddhist monk at an early age. Inspired by earlier Chinese pilgrims such as Faxian, he embarked on his journey to India around 627 CE despite imperial prohibitions on foreign travel. He crossed treacherous terrains such as the Gobi Desert, Tian Shan, and Pamir Mountains before reaching India in 630 CE.

In India, Hiuen Tsang visited several Buddhist centers, including Taxila, Kashmir, Mathura, and Kapilavastu. His most significant stay was at Nalanda University, where he spent nearly five years studying under the revered scholar Silabhadra. At Nalanda, he mastered Yogacara philosophy, Sanskrit, logic, grammar, and metaphysics. His association with Nalanda solidified his scholarly foundation and shaped his later works on Buddhist philosophy.

Hiuen Tsang’s Observations in India

Hiuen Tsang provided detailed descriptions of India’s geography, governance, and culture in his renowned work Si-Yu-Ki (Records of the Western World). He praised King Harsha Vardhana as a wise and benevolent ruler who patronized Buddhism while ensuring religious tolerance. According to his accounts, India was a prosperous land with flourishing trade, agriculture, and education. He recorded the existence of numerous Buddhist monasteries, vibrant cities, and a structured caste system.

He also described major religious sites such as Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, and Kushinagar, emphasizing their spiritual importance. His vivid accounts of the Kannauj Assembly and Prayag Kumbh Mela highlighted India’s religious diversity and cultural unity.

Return to China and Contributions

After gathering over 600 Buddhist scriptures, Hiuen Tsang returned to China in 645 CE. He was welcomed with great honor by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty but declined high official positions, dedicating the rest of his life to translating Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Chinese. His translations included key Yogacara works and philosophical treatises that enriched Chinese Buddhist scholarship.

Hiuen Tsang’s journey symbolizes the enduring spirit of intellectual pursuit and inter-cultural exchange between India and China. By studying at Nalanda and transmitting its teachings to China, he became a vital link in the transnational heritage of Buddhist learning. His legacy continues to inspire historians, philosophers, and spiritual seekers alike.

• Yijing (635–713 CE): The Buddhist Scholar and Traveler of Nalanda

Overview

Yijing, also known as I-ching or I-tsing, was a Tang-era Chinese Buddhist monk, translator, and travel writer who made significant contributions to the understanding of Buddhism in both India and Southeast Asia. His travel accounts, particularly A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea and Buddhist Monk's Pilgrimage of the Tang Dynasty, provide valuable insights into the Buddhist practices, education systems, and monastic traditions of medieval Asia. Yijing studied at the renowned Nalanda University in India, where he spent nearly ten years mastering Sanskrit and Buddhist philosophy.

Biography

Born as Zhang Wenming in 635 CE, Yijing was ordained as a monk at age 20. Inspired by Faxian and Xuanzang, he set out on his pilgrimage to India in 671 CE via the maritime route through Southeast Asia. He spent time in Srivijaya (modern-day Sumatra) before reaching India and visiting sacred Buddhist sites. His stay at Nalanda University allowed him to study under prominent scholars and translate numerous Buddhist scriptures. Yijing documented cultural, linguistic, and religious details about India, Bengal, and Southeast Asia, making his accounts vital historical records.

After returning to Srivijaya, he continued his translation work and emphasized the region’s role as a Buddhist learning center, even recommending Chinese monks to study there before going to India. Yijing translated more than 60 Buddhist texts into Chinese, including the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, Golden Light Sutra, and Diamond Sutra. His 25-year journey profoundly influenced Buddhist thought in East and Southeast Asia.

Yijing’s scholarly contributions bridged the intellectual worlds of India, China, and Southeast Asia. His writings preserved details of monastic education at Nalanda and the spread of Buddhism along maritime routes. By recording both Mahayana and Hinayana practices and promoting intercultural learning, Yijing remains an enduring figure in Buddhist historiography—embodying the spirit of knowledge exchange across civilizations.

References

1. Britannica. (n.d.). Yijing: Chinese Buddhist monk. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yijing-Chinese-Buddhist-monk
2. Wikipedia. (2024, August). Yijing (monk). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yijing_(monk)
3. Chinaknowledge.de. (n.d.). I-ching (Yijing). Retrieved from https://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Tang/personsiyijing.html
4. Banglapedia. (2021, July 13). Yijing (I-ching). Retrieved from http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Yijing
5. Buswell, R. E., & Lopez, D. S. (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. (See entry on Yijing.)
6. Britannica. (n.d.). Xuanzang: Chinese Buddhist monk. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Xuanzang
7. Wikipedia. (2024, August). Xuanzang. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuanzang
8. Ancient History Encyclopedia. (2019). Xuanzang. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Xuanzang/
9. Cultural India. (n.d.). Hiuen Tsang Biography. Retrieved from https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-history/hiuen-tsang.html
10. Buswell, R. E., & Lopez, D. S. (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press.
11. India Today. (2022, July 5). Who was Hiuen Tsang? The Chinese monk who visited India. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/who-was-hiuen-tsang-the-chinese-monk-who-visited-india-1970706-2022-07-05