Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t9: A Biography of Tripitaka Master
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t9
- Language
- English
A Biography of Tripitaka Master
v1.c7.s5.t9.1
A Biography of San Zang Master from Da Ci’en Temple is the biography of Master Xuanzang who went westward to India to seek Buddhist sutra in Tang Dynasty. This biography is also known by other names such as *Biography of Sang Zang Master of Ci’en Temple*, and *Ci’en Biography* for short. Its authors are Hui Li and Yan Cong.
v1.c7.s5.t9.2
Process of writing the book
v1.c7.s5.t9.3
In the spring of 646 CE, with the support from Emperor Taizong of Tang (627-649 CE), Xuanzang prepared to build a yard in order to translate the scriptures in Hongfu Temple, Chang’an. In summer, according to the arrangement of the court, one of the writing masters, Hui Li, came to Hongfu Temple. Since then, he remained there for many years and participated in Xuanzang’s translation work. Because he often accompanied Xuanzang and admired his knowledge and morality so after the death of Xuanzang in 664 CE, Hui Li wrote five volumes of *Biography of San Zang Master from Da Ci’en Temple* in order to spread his life story. After finishing it, he felt it was not comprehensive, and decided to store it in the crypt. Hui Li, before his death, asked his disciple to take it out. After Hui Li’s death, the book soon scattered around different places. The complete book was put together after many years of collection and purchase of its fragments. On the request of concerned authorities, Xuanzang’s disciple Yan Cong took on the mission of revising and supplementing it. Finally, 10 volumes were published in 688 CE as a complete book, which still survives up to now.
v1.c7.s5.t9.4
Main content
v1.c7.s5.t9.5
*The Biography of San Zang Master from Da Ci’en Temple* has 10 volumes. Volume 1 tells about the life of Xuanzang as a Buddhist and his travelling experiences and also narrates the process of his going westward to Gaochang (present-day Turpan, Xinjiang). Volume 2 describes the experience of Xuanzang starting from Gaochang, via Agni (now Yanqi, Xinjiang) and Qiuci (present-day Kuqa, Xinjiang), climbing snow mountains to enter Kyrgyzstan and passing through Central Asia to
v1.c7.s5.t9.6
[Figure: A Biography of the Tripiṭaka master *(Daci’ensi Sanzang fashi Zhuan)*]
v1.c7.s5.t9.7
Northern India, finally reaching Sankisa (present-day Kannauj in north India). Volume three describes Xuanzang’s travels southward across the Ganges River and various activities held in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India such as the worship of Buddhist holy land and learning from local monks. It specially records the history of Nalanda and its scale at that time and the experience of Xuanzang learning from Śīlabhadra. Volume four writes about Xuanzang’s Indian travel, learning and experiences along the way and the situation after returning to Nalanda. Volume five details Xuanzang’s efforts to spread Buddhism in Kamarupa (present-day Assam) in northeast India and the experience of returning home after participating in Buddhist Assembly of Śīladitya and Kumbh Mela. Volume six tells the story of Xuanzang from 646-648 CE, namely Xuanzang’s return to Chang’an, meeting with the Emperor Taizong of Tang, construction of translation hall and translation of Buddhist scriptures. Volume seven tells the story of Xuanzang from 648-654 CE which records that in the summer of 652 CE, Dharmavardhana from Mahabodhi Temple in India visited China and brought the letter and gifts from Prajñāprabha and Prajñādeva from the same temple to Xuanzang. Two years later, Dharmavardhana returned to India, and Xuanzang asked him to take back two letters to Prajñāprabha and Prajñādeva respectively. Volume seven kept the entire content of these three letters and it became the important historical materials of India-China friendship. Volume eight to 10 record the achievements of Xuanzang’s last 10 years as well as mourning and commemoration of the court and monks after his passing away.
v1.c7.s5.t9.8
Academic value
v1.c7.s5.t9.9
For India-China Cultural Exchanges, the academic value of *Biography of San Zang Master from Da Ci’en Temple* includes four points: First, it has the most detailed information of Xuanzang’s life story which is valuable for knowing the life of Xuanzang and his experience of going to India for seeking scriptures. Second, the westward route of Xuanzang and *Biography of San Zang Master from Da Ci’en Temple* complement each other which provides useful information for studying ancient India-China communications. Third records about Indian historical events and religious activities which were helpful in building Indian history at that time and also provided evidence for modern archaeological excavations. Fourth, the friendly exchanges between Xuanzang and Indian friends (including the king, Buddhist monks and people) in the book are historical testimony of India-China friendship and cultural exchanges.
v1.c7.s5.t9.10
*(Xue Keqiao)*