Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t9.7

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.