Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t5.2

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.