Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t4: Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t4

Language: English

Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty

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Emperor Gaozong of Tang, named as Li Zhi, (628-683 CE, on the throne from 649-683 CE) was the third emperor in Tang dynasty who continued the foreign policy of his father, Emperor Taizong of Tang and greatly enhanced the India-China cultural exchange.

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As a prince, Tang Gaozong was extremely respectful towards Buddhism, especially towards the great Buddhist scholar Xuanzang. He built many grand temples for his mother, the Empress Dowager Wen De. After these temples were built, he asked Xuanzang to preach there and also requested him to continue to translate Buddhist scriptures. Buddhism remained the focus of attention during Tang Gaozong's reign.

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In the second year of Xuan Qing (657 CE), he ordered Wang Xuance to go to India to deliver Buddha's cassock and act as a deputy ambassador to Liu Renkai in this envoy. Other people in the delegation included Liu Jiabin, who was responsible to keep the records of events; He Shouyi who was in charge of writing inscriptions; Wang Xuance's son Wang Lingmin and six other persons from royal families etc. According to the Chinese inscriptions, the Tang envoy to India found engraved on stone near Jilong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the time of departure for this envoy was led by Wang Xuance in June of the Xian Qing third year (658 CE) of Tang Gaozong's rule, which also in all probability indicates to the time when this envoy left from Lhasa.

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*Statues of 61 courtiers at Emperor Gaozong's mausoleum*

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After reaching India on September 27 of lunar calendar of the Xianqing fifth year (660 CE), Wang Xuance built a stone tablet in the Mahabodhi Temple (Dajue Temple). On October 1st the same year, the abbot of the Mahabodhi Temple summoned a dharma assembly for Wang Xuance, and after that, Wang returned to China. In the Longshuo first year (661 CE), Wang Xuance presented usnisa sarira (Buddha parietal sarira) to the emperor.

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According to the *Records of Eminent Monks of Tang Learning Buddhism Doctrines in Western Regions·Xuanzhao Biography*, it is probably that Wang Xuance headed to India the fourth time on the Longshuo third year (663 CE). However, the possibility and details of this visit has yet to be proven by historians.

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Ammannati Collects Medicinal Herbs

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In the Yonghui sixth, Ammannati, a monk from Central India came to Changan with 1,500 volumes of Mahayana and Hinayana *Vinaya-sutra*. Emperor Gaozong arranged him to live in the Ci'en Temple. In the first year of Xianqing (656 CE), Emperor Gaozong issued an order for Ammannati to head to the Kunlun Mountain to collect various magic medicinal herbs. Ammannati went to the countries around the South Sea and received courteous treatment from the kings there who even built a temple for him to disseminate the dharma. In the Longshuo third year (663 CE), Ammannati started a return journey to the Ci'en Temple with a variety of medicinal herbs, (according to *Continuation of Eminent Monk Biography*, volume IV; *Biography of Master Heun Sang*; *Record of Śākyamuni's Teachings Compiled during the Kaiyuan Period*, volume IX; *Buddhism Theogony*, volume 39)

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Brahmin Necromancer's Visit to China

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In the Linde second year (665 CE), Emperor Gaozong issued an ordered to Xuanzhao who then went to Kasmira Kingdom (now Kashmir) to invite Necromancer Lujiayiduo (Records of Eminent Monks of Tang Learning Buddhism Doctrines in Western Regions, Volume I).

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In the Zongzhang first year (668 CE), Emperor Taizong demanded Lujiayiduo to make the lifeprolonging drug. After the drug was produced and Emperor Gaozong was ready to eat it, Hao Chujun, a minister said to him that it had never been heard that the emperor of a strong country took the medicine at random made by a small nation. Gaozong heeded to Hao Chujun's advice and did not eat this medicine, but still appointed Lujiayiduo as a general in his army.

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Besides the above interactions, during Gaozong's reign there were numerous other official and unofficial interactions between India and China, for example in the Yonghui third year (652 CE), monk Zhiguang, Huitian, etc., from the Mahabodhi Temple sent monk Fachang to China to present a letter and white cotton to Master Heun Sang. (Biography of Tripitaka Dharma Master in Da Ci'en Temple, volume 7).