Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t10.7

v1.c7.s5.t10.7

*Datang Xiyu Qiufa Gaoseng Zhuan* is a monk's autobiography which also records experiences of more than 50 Chinese monks who travelled to India for further study on Buddhism at that time one by one as well as situations of India and the South Seas in all aspects. Some of information recorded in Datang Xiyu Qiufa Gaoseng Zhuan is not contained in Tang Western Regions. For example, many geographic names not recorded in Tang Western Regions appear in *Great Monk's Biography Who Seek the Doctrine from Tang to India*. Another example, the description of Nalanda Monastery, the most famous temple in India at that time, is not specific in Tang Western Regions while Datang Xiyu Qiufa Gaoseng Zhuan India has a rather specific record not only on the origin of its name but also on its architectural structure, materials used and construction methods, as well as the management system in the Monastery and all other matters. The book covers sole records on many aspects of the Monastery which has particular meanings for understanding the history of Nalanda Monastery.