Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t5: Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t5
- Language
- English
Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang
v2.c13.s4.t5.1
*The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* or *Records on the Western Regions* for short is a book covering a comprehensive description of the geography, history, politics, economy, society, culture and other subjects of the regions in Central and South Asia in the early 7th century. Originally dictated by Xuanzang, it was recorded and sorted out by his disciple Bianji.
v2.c13.s4.t5.2
**Origin of writing the book:** On January 24 of the 19th year of Zhenguan of Tang Dynasty (645 CE), Xuanzang ended his trip in India and returned to Chang'an with great honour with 657 Buddhist scriptures, several Buddha statues of various styles and 150 Buddha *śarīra* [relics]. In February, Xuanzang went to Luoyang and visited the Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin (627–649 CE). This meeting was too short and was essentially a courtesy meeting. The next day, Emperor Taizong of Tang invited Xuanzang to the Hall of Yiluan and they spoke for a long time. The emperor asked him about the condition of the Western Regions. With the memory of his great trip still fresh in his mind, Xuanzang fluently answered all the queries. The Emperor admired Xuanzang very much, and advised him to write a book about the western countries. Finally, Xuanzang promised to do so. The following year, *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* dictated by Xuanzang, and recorded and sorted out by his disciple Bianji, with 12 volumes, was finished and presented to the emperor.
v2.c13.s4.t5.3
**Basic contents:** *The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* narrates in accordance with the order of Xuanzang's westward route and returning route. Its contents are primarily based on Xuanzang's personal experience and some are hearsay.
v2.c13.s4.t5.4
Volume I tells the situation of 34 countries from Agni (now Yanqi, Xinjiang) to Kapisa (now Afghanistan). Thirty-four countries include Kuqa and Aksu regions of present Xinjiang and ancient countries of present day Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in Central Asia. This route was Xuanzang's westward route through the north of Tarim Basin ie the north road of the Silk Road.
v2.c13.s4.t5.5
Volume II first summarises the situation of India and then introduces the condition of the three countries. The contents of the summary include 17 points such as name (origin of India), territory, quantity (length unit), time (name and calculation method of the day and night, month, season, year), residence (living conditions of different social classes), clothes, food and drink, writings, education, Buddhism, family with same surname, (ie caste), military tactics (including arms and weapons), criminal law, ceremony, illness and death (including the treatment of illness and rituals after death) and taxes. This summary is scheduled from the point of the official entry of Xuanzang to India. It records the situation of three countries which are now in northwest India, ie present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.
v2.c13.s4.t5.6
Volume III records the situation of eight countries and they are all in northwest of India and includes present day regions of Pakistan and Kashmir. Volume IV records the situation of 15 countries which are mostly in northern India. Six countries in Volume V, four countries in Volume VI and five countries in Volume VII are basically in northern India and Nepal.
v2.c13.s4.t5.7
Volume VIII and IX make the special introduction of Magadha (now Bihar, India). It is not only the major site connected with the life and numerous activities of and stories related to Gautam Buddha, but is also the location of Nalanda Monastery/University where Xuanzang studied for five years. Xuanzang was very familiar with this area.
v2.c13.s4.t5.8
Volume X records the situation of 17 countries, located in present-day West Bengal, Assam in India
v2.c13.s4.t5.9
'Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang', a picture of the book
v2.c13.s4.t5.10
and in Bangladesh as well as of Odisha in eastern India, Madhya Pradesh in central India, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in southern India and western regions in the south of the Indian Peninsula.
v2.c13.s4.t5.11
Volume XI records the situation of 23 countries, besides Simhaladvipa [Sri Lanka] (which is based on hearsay), the rest includes countries in southwestern India, Western India and Northern India, and even Persia [Iran] - the book notes that this country did not belong to India but was a place that Xuanzang once visited.
v2.c13.s4.t5.12
Volume XII records the situation of 22 countries. These countries are mainly the places that Xuanzang passed on the way home from Afghanistan to Xinjiang in China. Xuanzang's route to return home was different from the one that he took to go abroad. He did not go to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan but took the route passing through south of Tarim Basin, Xinjiang.
v2.c13.s4.t5.13
**Study of translation:** *The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* attracted the attention of the western academic circles in the middle of the 19th century. It was first translated by a French scholar M.S. Julien as *The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*, and was published in Paris from 1857 to 1858 CE. Then two English volumes translated on the basis of the French translation appeared. One was by Samuel Beal, a British scholar, and was published in London in 1884 CE. The second was a two volume English translation by Thomas Watters published from 1904 to 1905 in London. These are more authoritative translations in the west. French, British, German and Russian scholars of Oriental Studies have, however, continued to study various aspects of the *Great Tang Records on the Western*
v2.c13.s4.t5.14
Manuscripts from Dunhuang of 'Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang'
v2.c13.s4.t5.15
*Regions* and numerous monographs and articles have appeared during the last 100 years.
v2.c13.s4.t5.16
Translation studies of Japanese scholars surpass western works and have a great influence on researches on China. In 1894, *Biographical Chronology of Master Xuanzang* published in *Buddhist History Review* was the earliest research paper in Japan. In 1910, Kyoto University produced a significant research paper entitled *Assessment and Correction of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*. In 1912, Ono Kentoku's work, the *Commentary of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*, published in Tokyo, was the earliest monograph in translation studies in Japan. From 1942 to 1943, Adachi Kiroku published two volumes of *Studies on Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* in Tokyo, drawing the attention of academia. The book became a milestone in the study of *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*. In 1972, Japanese *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*, translated and annotated by Mizutani Shinjo, was published in Tokyo, representing the new standard of the international research. In 1983, *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* retranslated by Nomura Yosho was published in Tokyo.
v2.c13.s4.t5.17
Since the 20th century, Indian scholars began to pay attention to the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* and conducted research. Historians like D. D. Kosambi, D. N. Jha, Ram Vilas Sharma, Prabodh Chandra Bagchi, R. C. Majumdar, Devahuti and Romila Thapar made significant use of the information of *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* in their own writings. Their researches also extended to further studies of various place names referred in the book.
v2.c13.s4.t5.18
Since the 20th century, Chinese scholars drew lessons from foreign academic achievements and began to conduct study on the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*. Early researchers included Ding Qian, Chen Yinke, Chen Yuan, Feng Chengjun, Liang Qichao and Ouyang Jingwu. Before 1960, academic circles of Chinese mainland have published more than 20 books on various aspects of the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*.
v2.c13.s4.t5.19
In 1982, *Three Ancient Versions of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* edited by Xiang Da was published by Zhonghua Book Company. In 1984, Zhou Liankuan's *Historical and Geographical Study on Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* was also published by Zhonghua Book Company. In 1985, *Collation and Annotation of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*, under the overall supervision of Ji Xianlin, and joint participation of Sun Yutang, Zhu Jieqin, Su Bai, Zhang Guangda, Yang Tingfu, Zhang Yi, Geng Shimin, Jiang Zhongxin, Zhao Shouyan, Wang Bangwei and others was produced by Zhonghua Book Company. This was the most significant highest level of the study of *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* in China. In addition, Rui Chuanming's *Introduction of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* (1989) and *Complete Translation of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions (complete version)* (1995), Zhou Guolin's annotated translation of *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* (1999), Ji Xianlin et.al.’s the *Modern Translation of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* (2008) and Fan Xiangyong’s *Collation Summary of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* (2012) reflect not only the nature of research but also the direction of further studies of the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*.
v2.c13.s4.t5.20
In February 1994, Chinese Xuanzang Research Center, under the leadership of Huang Xinchuan, was established. This brought together a large group of Chinese scholars doing research on Xuanzang and the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* providing impetus to the creation of new knowledge in many related research area. The centre held many large international academic conferences and published many academic papers. These papers are available in published proceedings and many related monographs.
v2.c13.s4.t5.21
**Evaluation:** In the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*, with remarkable memory, Xuanzang talks about the situation of 138 countries and regions including history, geography, religion, folk customs, languages and writings which provides extremely rich and valuable source of information for the study on the history, society and culture of ancient Central Asia and South Asia. It is precious, because its records are truthful. Except for some Buddhist stories which are from hearsay and cannot be verified, Xuanzang’s records on the whole are reliable and matches the evidences of historical development of modern society in India. Xuanzang’s books have been the most important guide for location of sites and most significant modern archaeological excavations of Buddhist sites in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Sites of Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Sarnath and Grdhrakuta or in Ajanta, Nalanda and Taxshila, owe much to detailed evidences provided in Xuanzang’s records. This has been noted by the most eminent Brtitish archaeologist in India Sir Alexander Cunningham and others. These excavations have proved the authenticity of Xuanzang’s records. Today, when people visit these holy lands of Buddhism, they can feel the presence of Xuanzang everywhere.
v2.c13.s4.t5.22
Prabodh Chandra Bagchi at work
v2.c13.s4.t5.23
Both past and present Indian and foreign historians thus praise Xuanzang’s *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* and unanimously agree that the book has been of great importance in rebuilding the history of India and Central Asia. Chinese scholar Ji Xianlin points out that “*Great Tang Records on the Western Regions* has already become the treasure of studying India’s history, philosophy, religion and literature, etc. We almost cannot find a book about ancient Indian studies without reference to *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*.”
v2.c13.s4.t5.24
(*Collation and Annotation of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions · Preface*)