Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t1.3

v2.c10.s3.t1.3

Sanzang is sent to procure Buddhist scriptures, and received the help of a monkey. He enters the Palace of Brahma and there obtains three magic items. He then continues to go westward, by way of Snake Kingdom, Lion Kingdom and Tree-Man Kingdom, and encounters the spirit of the white-tiger. He gets out of the difficult situation with the assistance of the God of Quicksand, and then goes to the Pool of Queen Mother via Hariti Kingdom and Women Kingdom. After travelling through many kingdoms he finally arrives in India. He returns to China with 5,480 volumes of Buddhist scriptures. Upon arriving in the capital city in China, the emperor himself goes out to greet him. Then, a lotus ship descends from the skies and carries Sanzang and his disciples back to the heaven. It is the earliest extant vernacular novel about Xuanzang's pilgrimage, and a precursor for subsequent works such as '*The Journey to the West*', demonstrating the great influence of this historical event.