Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c16.s1.t6.5

v2.c16.s1.t6.5

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.