Chinese Monks in India: Biography of Eminent Monks Who Went to the Western World in Search of the Law During the Great T'Ang Dynasty

194 Pages·1995·6.928 MB·English

by  Latika Lahiri

ground for intellectual and spiritual
interest and intercourse between India
and China.
The presen! work is a lrans}alion of a
sevenlh-century text Hao-Seng-Chusrt
(Biographies of Eminen! Monks) ty the
renowned Chinese monk-scholar 卜ching
(a.o. 614-713). It consists of biographies
of fifty-six monks. Among the Chinese
pilgrim-monk-scholars who visitdd India,
Fa-hsien, Hsuan-chuang and l-ching are
the best known for having played the
greatest rofe in the history of $ino-lr>dian
cultural relation. However, the fifty-six
monks whose adventurous travels and
experiences are recorded in this book
are no less important as active promot­
ers of the most cordial relations between
the two great countries
Most of these f^y-six monks came
out to India from China on Pilgrimage
and for colleciion of texts to enrich
Buddhist literature in their own home­
land. In this book l*chif>g has also given
a vivid, though not full-length, descrip­
tion of the premief University of
Nalanda, the seal of Suddhrst learning.
The academic life and activities of
Nalanda attracted the Chinese monks in
a large number for higher studies.
Written with insight, realism and
claiiy, l-ching's book is thought-provok­
ing. All these features are carefully
preserved in this translation which will
no doubt evoke interest among scholars
as well as general readers
ISBN 8r*208 00ff2-1 Rs.175
CHINese M o_ in in d u
BUDDHIST TRADITION SCRIES
EdUed by
aj.ex wayman
Editorial Advisory Board
J.W. DFJONG
KATSUMl MIMAKI
CHR. UNDTfs’ER
MICHAEL JIAHN
LOKESH CfiANDRA
ERNST STEINKELLNER
VOLUME 3
CHINESE MONKS
IN INDIA
Biography of Eminent Monks who went
to the Western Wodd in Search of the Law
daring the Great Tang Dynasty
BY
I-CHING
TRANSLATED BV
LATIKA LAHIRI
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F A T H E R
FOREWORD
The Chinese are justifiably said to be food of, and adept at
historical records, such as the record h«e translated by l^hiri.
Ic is frequently claimed that the Indians were neither fond of
nor adept at such records. Even so, Chinese monks did not lose
si(h( of India as the spiritual fountain of Buddhism, Certain
native Chinese compositions by Buddhists were attributed to
Indian auehorship to lend the worlcs greater pmtige—thus the
attributed authorship contradicts correct literary hutor/, despite
the fondness of the Chinese ibr historical records.
As long as the Buddhist institutions of India continued as
viable spiritual centres, they inspired visits by intrepid Chinese
monks, who braved all sorts of perils to reach ^non-historical"
India. And I-Ching wrote up the lives of the eminent Chinese
monki who risked their lives to come to India to study, during
the Great T'ang Dynasty of China. He modelled his composi­
tion called Kao seng-chuan after earlier and a large work of this
genre. Latika Lnhiri provides the first English translation of
J-Ching's treatise. Doubtlew, many a scholar will be interested
in this translation aad the notes thereto, as they previously used
the observations of India by the celebrated Hsuan-tiang. Indian
scholars also，despite the ^on-historical* label, can be expected
to coniult and appreciate Lahiri^ translation.
New Delhi Aux Wayman
August 9, 1986
CONTENTS
Fortword vi
Prologue ix
Abbreviations xi
Chart of Ckiruse DynastUs xiii
Introdiutwn xv
Biography of Eminent Monks Who WMt to the
Western Region in Search of the Law During
the Great T ’ang Dynasty
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Chapter One; Preface 1
Chapter Two: Fifteen Monks 62
CHINESE TEXT 125
Bibliography 139
Indtx 147