Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c16.s1.t6: Xuanzang Memorial Hall
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c16.s1.t6
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Xuanzang Memorial Hall
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Xuanzang Memorial Hall is erected on the ruins of Nalanda in the southeast of Bihar, India to commemorate Xuanzang, an eminent Buddhist monk, traveller, translator and founder of the Faxiang school. In 631, Xuanzang arrived in Magadha in the central India and went to Nalanda, then the religious centre of India and stayed there for five or six years to study Buddhist texts under Silabhatra and to teach. In 645 CE, he returned and brought 657 CE sutras back to Chang’an and then devoted to translation. He made a great contribution to India-China cultural exchange.
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*Statue of Xuanzang in front of the Xuanzang Memorial Hall, Nalanda, Bihar, India*
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Nalanda was built in the Gupta Dynasty in the first half of 5^th century, and was a centre of Buddhist learning and the world’s earliest international university. It had been successively expanded and was reputed for grand buildings and rich collections. According to *Eminent Monks* (Vol. 3), “Nalanda occupies 48 *li*, has nine temples and one entrance gate, and was built by Sakraditya”. At its peak, it has thousands of excellent scholars and tens of thousands of students studying Buddhism and other disciplines, but it was ransacked and destroyed by a Turkish Muslim army in the 12^th century. In early 20^th century, based on relevant records in Xuanzang’s *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*, that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated, brought Nalanda to limelight again.
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In 1954, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and India Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru exchanged visits to promote friendly intercourses between the two nations. The Buddhist circles were delighted and inspired. J Kashyap, the rector of Nalanda Institute, was the first to propose a joint effort to build a Memorial Hall for Xuanzang. Mr. Zhao Puchu, a lay Buddhist representing the Chinese Buddhist circle gave an active response. Such interaction received due attention and support from both countries. Zhou Enlai and Nehru decided that a memorial hall be erected at Nalanda, where Xuanzang had studied and worked, so as to commemorate his extraordinary contribution to cultural exchange between China and India.
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On November 23, 1956, a delegation of Chinese Buddhists visited India. In the afternoon of January 12, 1957, a solemn ceremony was held at Institute of Pali and Buddhism which was newly erected near the ruins of Nalanda. The Dalai Lama, on behalf of the Chinese government, offered a relic of Xuanzang’s skull, 1,335 volumes translated by Xuanzang, a set of *Qisha Tripitaka*, a draft design for the Memorial Hall and a sum of RMB 3,00,000 Yuan for the construction programme and Nehru accepted these on behalf of the Indian government. The relic of skull was cherished and later, was carefully kept at Xuanzang Memorial Hall. Xuanzang’s stories are included in India’s elementary textbooks and are very well-known among the people. However, due to various reasons, the construction of the Memorial Hall has not been finished.
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The interior of the Xuanzang Memorial Hall
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After nearly half a century, the Memorial Hall was in urgent need of repair. In 2000, China and India included it into the plan for mutual cultural exchange. At the end of 2003, Indian government granted Rupees 30 million for interior furnishing and landscaping of the building. In 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated the renovation of Xuanzang Memorial Hall as a programme of mutual cultural exchange. It was decided that relevant work should be finished in 2006, the year for India-China Friendship. On Chinese side, State Administration for Religious Affairs would take charge of the matter, while India would set up a construction and maintenance committee for Xuanzang Memorial Hall. The main buildings of the Memorial Hall covers an area of 4.5 hectare and at the request of the construction and maintenance committee, Indian government granted the neighbouring 27-hectare lake to the Memorial Hall free of cost. Thus, its total area is more than 30 hectare. Besides, Indian government assigned 47.5 hectare in the neighbourhood of the Memorial Hall to Nalanda International University. Thanks to experts, scholars, artists, engineers, Buddhist and businessmen in both countries, repair and renovation of Xuanzang Memorial Hall was accomplished on time at the end of 2006.
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Now, the Memorial Hall appears brand new. Its main buildings is placed on the huge base of white marble and have a style of royal palaces in the great Tang Dynasty. At the entrance, a Chinese-style arch is erected which is made up by 14 tonne of bronze. On the two sides of the court there are three monuments: Xuanzang Monument, Tang Sanzang Sacred Order Monument and Origin Monument for Xuanzang Memorial Hall. The bell pavilion has a huge bell on which the Heart Sutra is inscribed in both Chinese and Sanskrit. In front of the main entrance, there is a bronze statue of the pilgrim Xuanzang. Right in front of the lobby are a white-marble relief of Maitreya debating over *sutras* and a bronze statue of Xuanzang preoccupied with translating *sutras*. On the side wall are copper-plate murals describing the life of Xuanzang. A number of art collections and historical articles are on display including *Tripitaka* from Chinese government.
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Xuanzang Memorial Hall is a witness to India-China cultural exchange and a symbol of traditional India-China friendship. On February 12, 2007, more than 300 eminent monks and officials from both sides attended a solemn ceremony to inaugurate the completion and opening of Xuanzang Memorial Hall.
Cites (1)
- Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya — Sanskrit