Yijing Chinese Buddhist Scholar at Nalanda University

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, it provides 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.