Xuanzang

Definition

Xuanzang was a renowned Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and translator who played a pivotal role in the transmission of Buddhism from India to China during the Tang Dynasty. His extensive travels and translations of Buddhist texts had a profound impact on the development of Chinese Buddhism and its religious doctrine.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Xuanzang's 17-year pilgrimage to India is considered one of the most significant journeys in the history of Chinese Buddhism, as he brought back hundreds of Buddhist texts and relics.
2. Xuanzang's translations of Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Chinese, including the Yogācāra and Mādhyamaka philosophical schools, played a crucial role in the development of Chinese Buddhist thought and practice.
3. Xuanzang's extensive travels and interactions with Indian Buddhist scholars and practitioners significantly influenced the spread and evolution of Mahayana Buddhism in China.
4. Xuanzang's writings, such as the 'Great Tang Records of the Western Regions,' provide invaluable historical and cultural information about medieval India and Central Asia.
5. Xuanzang's life and accomplishments have been celebrated in various literary and artistic works, including the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West,' which fictionalized his pilgrimage to India.

Review Questions

• Describe the significance of Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India and its impact on the transmission of Buddhism to China.
  • Xuanzang's 17-year pilgrimage to India was a seminal event in the history of Chinese Buddhism. During his travels, he collected hundreds of Buddhist texts and relics, which he later translated into Chinese, making them more accessible to the Chinese people. Xuanzang's extensive interactions with Indian Buddhist scholars and his firsthand experience of the religious and cultural landscape of India significantly influenced the development of Chinese Buddhist thought and practice. His translations of key Buddhist philosophical texts, such as those from the Yogācāra and Mādhyamaka schools, played a crucial role in the evolution of Chinese Buddhism and its religious doctrine.
• Analyze the impact of Xuanzang's translations and writings on the spread and evolution of Mahayana Buddhism in China.
  • Xuanzang's translations of Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Chinese were instrumental in the dissemination and development of Mahayana Buddhism in China. By making these important texts more accessible to the Chinese people, Xuanzang facilitated the transmission of Mahayana Buddhist teachings and philosophical concepts, such as the Yogācāra and Mādhyamaka schools. His writings, particularly the 'Great Tang Records of the Western Regions,' also provided valuable insights into the religious and cultural landscape of medieval India, which influenced the way Chinese Buddhists understood and interpreted Mahayana doctrines. Xuanzang's scholarly contributions and the widespread adoption of his translated texts played a significant role in shaping the unique Chinese Buddhist tradition and its religious doctrine.
• Evaluate the lasting legacy of Xuanzang and his contributions to the cultural and intellectual exchange between China and India during the Tang Dynasty.
  • Xuanzang's life and achievements have left an enduring legacy that transcends the boundaries of Chinese and Indian history. As a pioneering scholar-monk, his 17-year pilgrimage to India and the subsequent translation of hundreds of Buddhist texts into Chinese facilitated a profound cultural and intellectual exchange between the two civilizations. Xuanzang's writings, such as the 'Great Tang Records of the Western Regions,' provide invaluable historical and cultural insights that have enriched our understanding of medieval India and Central Asia. Moreover, his translations of key Buddhist philosophical texts, including those from the Yogācāra and Mādhyamaka schools, had a lasting impact on the development of Chinese Buddhist thought and its religious doctrine. Xuanzang's life and accomplishments have also been celebrated in various literary and artistic works, such as the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West,' further cementing his status as a legendary figure in the cultural heritage of both China and India.

Related terms

Tang Dynasty: The Tang Dynasty was a golden age of Chinese civilization, known for its cultural, economic, and political achievements, including the spread of Buddhism during Xuanzang's time.

Buddhist Sutras: The Buddhist sutras are the discourses attributed to the Buddha or his close disciples, which Xuanzang translated from Sanskrit into Chinese, making them more accessible to the Chinese people.

Silk Road: The Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected China to the West, which Xuanzang traveled along during his famous 17-year pilgrimage to India to obtain Buddhist texts.