The Life of Hiuen-Tsiang

The book is organized as a narrative biography of Hiuen-Tsiang’s life and pilgrimage. It begins with his birth, family background, early religious inclination, education, and decision to leave China in search of Buddhist scriptures and deeper doctrinal understanding. The following books trace his westward journey through Central Asia, including encounters with rulers, monks, monasteries, difficult landscapes, political dangers, and sacred Buddhist sites. The central portion of the work follows his arrival in India, his studies at important Buddhist centers, his residence at Nālandā, his scholarly exchanges, and his visits to places associated with the Buddha’s life and previous Buddhist history. Later sections describe his return journey, reception in China, work of translation, and final legacy. The introductory material also discusses I-Tsing and other Chinese pilgrims, giving broader context to the movement of Buddhist texts, monks, and learning between India, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and China.