Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c30.108

c30.108

**Approximate number of Monks and Monasteries seen by the Chinese Pilgrim.** Here ends Hiuen Tsang's account of Buddhist education in India. The account shows that though the period of Harsha and Hiuen Tsang was one of 'decline for Buddhism in India, yet the number of monks and monasteries was fairly large. The monasteries that were seen to be in working order and tenanted by monks numbered approximately 5,000 (excluding those which Hiuen Tsang describes as being dilapidated and deserted). The total number of the monkish population in the parts of India visited by Hiuen Tsang (including Ceylon) was as high as 212,130. This number was distributed as follows among the various sects or schools of Buddhism then flourishing:—