Overview
This biography of the eminent seventh-century scholar-monk Xuanzang records his travels to India and subsequent achievements on his return to China. Complete in one volume.
About
Taishō 2053
Volume 50
A Biography of the Tripiṭaka Master of the Great Ci'en Monastery of the Great Tang Dynasty
This text, A Biography of the Tripiṭaka Master of the Great Ci’en Monastery of the Great Tang Dynasty, follows the life and travels of Xuan-zhuang, the author of the Record of the Western Regions of Greater Tang (Ch. Da-tang-xi-yu-ji), Taisho 100. Starting with Xuan-zhuang’s birth, this biography describes his journey lasting more than ten years from China to India in search of the Dharma, and then goes on to record his achievements after his return to China. It is thus a complete biography, and whereas Record of the Western Regions is compiled on the basis of firsthand observations of geographical features, etc., this more personal work is centered on the account of his actual journey.
Note: This work is said to be the model for the Chinese popular fable, The Monkey King (Ch.: Xi-you-ji), written during the Ming Dynasty.
Source
Composed by Hui-li (Jpn.: Eryū); supplemented by Yan-cong. 10 fascicles.
Table of Contents
A Message on the Publication of the English Tripiṭaka NUMATA Yehan v
Editorial Foreword HANAYAMA Shayu vii
Publisher's Foreword Philip Yampolsky ix
A Biography of the Tripiṭaka Master of the Great Ci'en Monastery of the Great Tang Dynasty
Translator's Introduction Li Rongxi 1
Preface Shi Yancong 5
Fascicle I Beginning from His Birth at Goushi and Ending with His Arrival at Gaochang in the West 11
Fascicle II Beginning with the Country of Agni and Ending with the Country of Kanyākubja 37
Fascicle III Beginning with the Country of Ayodhyā and Ending with the Country of Īraṇaparvata 75
Fascicle IV Beginning with the Country of Campā and Ending with the Invitation of the King of Kāmarūpa 107
Fascicle V Beginning with the Prediction of a Nirgrantha about His Homeward Journey and Ending with His Arrival at the Western Canal in the Imperial Capital 137
Fascicle VI Beginning with His Arrival at the Western Capital in the First Month of the Spring in the Nineteenth Year and Ending with His Thanks for the Preface Written by the Emperor to the Scriptures and the Emperor's Reply in the Sixth Month ofthe Summer in the Twenty-Second Year 173
Fascicle VII Beginning with the Composition of the "Statement of the Sacred Preface" by the Crown Prince in the Sixth Month of the Summer in the Twenty-Second Year and Ending with a Reply by the Master in the Second Month of the Spring in the Fifth Year ofYonghui 203
Fascicle VIII Beginning with the Translation of the Nyāyamukha Śāstra in the Fifth Month of the Summer in the Sixth Year of Yonghui and Ending with the Expression of Thanks by Court Officials for the Inscription Com- posed by the Emperor for the Monastery in the Third Month of the Spring in the First Year ofXianqing 237
Fascicle IX Beginning with a Letter of Thanks for the Completion of the Inscription of the Ci'en Monastery in the Third Month of the First Year of Xianqing and Ending with His Return to the Western Capital with the Emperor in the First Month of the Third Year 275
Fascicle X Beginning with His Return to the Western Capital with the Emperor from Luoyang in the First Month of the Third Year of Xian- qing and Ending with His Demise at Yuhua Palace in the Second Month of the First Year of Linde 325
Glossary 351
Selected Bibliography 359
Index 361
A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tripiṭaka (First Series) 377