On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c26.s1.3

v2.c26.s1.3

¹ "In the third year and the eighth month of the period Chêng Kwan" (Beal, Life, p. 11). Beal equates that year with 630 A. D., but Mr. Watters and M. Chavannes seem to be right in equating it with 629 A. D. September roughly corresponds with the eighth month as the Chinese year begins with "the nearest new moon to the month of February" (Du Halde, Hist. of China, Engl. transl., 3. ed., Vol. III, p. 97). A later passage in the Life (p. 209) asserts that the pilgrim started in the fourth month, but the date of the eighth month is confirmed by the 'address to the reader' (postface) of the Si-yu-ki (Chavannes, Turcs Occidentaux, p. 198 note), and harmonizes with the details of the narrative of the travels better than the earlier date.