Chapter 16 Chapter 3 Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties

After Faxian, there was an endless stream of people seeking the Dharma going westward, reaching its peak in the Tang Dynasty.According to Yijing's "Biography of Eminent Monks Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", from the fifteenth year of Zhenguan Emperor Taizong (AD 641) to the second year of Wuhou Tianshou (AD 691), in just over 40 years, there were more than 40 Tang Dynasty monks. Monks go to India to learn scriptures.And Yijing's statistics are certainly incomplete.Before 641 and after 691, there were still many monks who went to the west to seek the Dharma in the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, such as the famous Xuanzang, Huiri, Hanguang, Wukong, Zhixuan, etc., not among them.

Master Xuanzang of Sanzang was the greatest representative of the movement of seeking Dharma in the Tang Dynasty.He is a native of Yanshi, Henan Province, with a common surname of Chen. He has been intelligent since childhood and became a monk when he was young.At first, he lived with his second elder brother Jie in Luoyang Jingtu Temple, and later went to Chengdu via Chang'an, where he received full precepts at Konghui Temple.At that time, the world was in war and life in Chengdu was relatively stable, but Xuanzang resolutely left Chengdu and went eastward along the river in order to study, regardless of Changjie's dissuasion.He studied and preached the Dharma along the way, made a big circle, and went north to Chang'an.When he was in Chang'an, he was already very famous and was known as "the thousand-mile horse of Buddhism".But there were many issues in the Buddhist world at that time. In order to clarify these issues, Xuanzang decided to follow the example of Faxian and go to the West to learn Buddhist scriptures.At that time, not long after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the western border was very unsettled, and the imperial court did not allow private travel to the west.Xuanzang ignored the imperial ban and left Chang'an in the third year of Zhenguan (629 A.D.) among the refugees.Go west all the way and come to Liangzhou.With the help of monks and laymen, he escaped the pursuit of Li Daliang, the governor of Liangzhou, and traveled westward along the Hexi Corridor.He nearly died due to disorientation and lack of water while passing through the 800-mile desert outside Yumen Pass.Fortunately, the old horse knew the way and took him to a place with water.Then, he came to Gaochang State (today's Turpan area) via Yiwu.The king of Gaochang valued Xuanzang very much and forced him to stay in Gaochang.Xuanzang expressed his determination to go west with a hunger strike.King Gaochang had no choice but to become a brother with Xuanzang and sponsored him to travel westward.With the help of King Gaochang, he led some troops through Yanqi, Kucha and other places, crossed the snow-capped mountains, and entered India.During his stay in India, he toured the holy sites while teaching the scriptures and studying the Dharma. He lived and studied in Nalanda Monastery, the Buddhist center, for five years.After studying a lot, he returned to Nalanda, ascended to the altar and gave lectures, and became famous all over Tianzhu.At this time, some kings in India knew that there was an eminent monk in China, and they sent invitations one after another.

So, he bid farewell to the teacher of Nalanda Temple, Master Jiexian, and his classmates. He first went to the country of Kamalubo (in the area of ​​Assam, India today) to teach the Dharma, and then he was invited to Qunv City (in today's northern India). Bangkanaoji area), to participate in the Dharma meeting specially held for him by King Jieri.At the Dharma conference, Xuanzang debated with figures from various factions, but did not meet any opponents.So it was revered as "Mahayana Heaven" by Mahayana people, and "Liberation Heaven" by Hinayana people.Xuanzang was not dazzled by the honor, and he still wanted to return to his motherland after King Jieri repeatedly persuaded him to stay.King Jie Ri agreed to his request and provided him with various conveniences for returning home.In the nineteenth year of Zhenguan (AD 645), Xuanzang returned to Chang'an with 657 Buddhist scriptures and several Buddha statues.Previously, Khotan had reported the news of his return to the imperial court, so on the day he arrived in Chang'an, officials and people from Chang'an City and its suburbs came out to greet this eminent monk.At that time, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty was in Luoyang, and he received Xuanzang soon.The emperor admired Xuanzang very much and was very interested in what he had seen and heard in the Western Regions.The next year, Xuanzang compiled 12 volumes of "Da Tang Western Regions" and presented it to the emperor.In the book, he described in detail the history, geography, religion, folklore, language, and characters of 138 countries and regions in the Western Regions with his amazing memory, providing extremely valuable materials for studying the history and culture of ancient Central and South Asia.Xuanzang also set up a large-scale translation field with the support of the imperial court. He devoted the rest of his life to translating 74 Buddhist scriptures with 1335 volumes.

Xuanzang is the first great man in the history of cultural exchanges between China and India.Mr. Ji Xianlin made a comprehensive evaluation of his achievements and summed them up in six sentences: "He is a famous eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty, a Buddhist idealist theorist, a traveler who is not afraid of hardships and dangers, an outstanding translator, and a typical example of giving up his life to seek the Dharma. , the incarnation of Sino-Indian friendship." ("Da Tang Western Regions Collation Notes Preface") Indeed, Xuanzang's contribution to Sino-Indian cultural exchanges cannot be overestimated.

After Xuanzang, many Chinese monks went to India to study Buddhist scriptures, the most famous of which was Yijing who went to India 70 years after Xuanzang learned Buddhist scriptures.After returning to China, Yijing wrote two books, namely "Biography of Great Monks Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" and "Biography of Nanhai Jigui Neifa".These two books have important information value for us to understand the grand occasion of seeking Dharma in the Western Regions at that time, the situation of Buddhism in India and Southeast Asia, and the history of cultural exchanges between China and India.

The upsurge of the movement of seeking Dharma in the Tang Dynasty promoted the cultural exchange between China and India, and accelerated the integration of Chinese culture and Indian culture.The emergence of Zen Buddhism marks the completion of the Sinicization of Indian Buddhism.After a long period of painful cultural integration, Buddhist culture has become an organic part of Chinese culture and has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, thus playing an invisible role in various aspects such as life concepts, ways of thinking, moral standards, value orientations, and living customs.

During this period, monks from all over India came to China, including Dharma Gupta, Prakhara Mitra, Nati Sanzang, Ruona Badara, Buddhadara, Buddha Poli, Zunfa, Wugao, Dipoha Luo, Wisdom, Anijina, Bodhi Ruzhi, Extreme Strength, Goodness and Fearlessness, Vajra Wisdom, Bukong, Lishe, Wisdom, Munishili, Lotus Flower, Shitianzhu, Prajna, Padara.Among them, Shanwuwei, Vajra Wisdom and Bukong have a greater influence.They came to the Tang Dynasty during the Kaiyuan period and were very favored by the emperor and important ministers. They translated a large number of Buddhist Tantra classics and played a great role in promoting the spread of Tantric Buddhism in China.

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