Perhaps the most famous Chinese pilgrim to India was Xuanzang, whose journey to India became legendary. Xuanzang’s pilgrimage, which took place from 629 to 645 CE during the Tang dynasty, was an endeavor not only to gather Buddhist scriptures but also to study the intricacies of Buddhist philosophy and religious practices.

Xuanzang’s journey was marked by many hardships, including long stretches through deserts and mountains, but it was also one of the most well-documented pilgrimages in history. Xuanzang visited many regions of India, including Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan), Kashmir, Mathura, and most importantly, the great Buddhist center of Nalanda. It was at Nalanda that Xuanzang spent a significant amount of time, studying under some of the most renowned Buddhist scholars of the time. He brought back with him hundreds of Sanskrit manuscripts, which he later translated into Chinese, significantly influencing the development of Buddhism in China.

Xuanzang’s accounts of India, written in his work Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, provide a detailed and rich portrait of the cultural, religious, and political landscape of India during the early medieval period. His observations about the state of Buddhism in India, the rituals practiced, and the descriptions of Indian society became an important resource for scholars and monks in China and beyond.

Yijing (c. 635–713 CE)

Another important Chinese pilgrim was Yijing, who traveled to India during the late 7th century. His journey was motivated by a desire to study Buddhist scriptures and bring back texts to China. Yijing’s journey was somewhat different from those of Faxian and Xuanzang in that it was less adventurous, but his time in India was marked by scholarly endeavors, particularly in the regions of India that had rich Buddhist traditions.

Yijing is best known for his travels to Sri Lanka, where he studied Buddhist teachings and translated texts into Chinese. He was also involved in promoting Buddhism in Southeast Asia. His works, though less well-known than those of Faxian and Xuanzang, also provide valuable insights into the religious and cultural exchanges between India and China.

Contributions and Legacy

The Chinese pilgrims who journeyed to India during the 5th to 7th centuries made significant contributions to both Chinese and global understanding of Buddhism and Indian culture. Their travels not only helped to foster the spread of Buddhism in China but also facilitated the translation of important Buddhist texts into Chinese, many of which are still revered today.

Furthermore, the records left by these pilgrims offer modern historians and scholars a glimpse into the ancient world. The pilgrims’ detailed observations of life in India—its politics, culture, religious practices, and geography—have become crucial historical documents. Through their accounts, we learn about the high level of sophistication in Indian society during this period, including its great urban centers, such as Pataliputra (modern-day Patna), the flourishing of trade, and the practice of Buddhist monasticism.

Their travels also helped build bridges between China and India, two civilizations that, although geographically distant, were deeply connected by shared religious and cultural interests. The pilgrims played a crucial role in not only preserving and transmitting the teachings of Buddhism but also in establishing long-lasting cultural links between the two regions.

Conclusion

The history of Chinese pilgrims traveling to India during the 5th to 7th centuries is a testament to the spiritual and intellectual exchanges that shaped the cultural landscape of Asia. Through the journeys of Faxian, Xuanzang, Yijing, and other pilgrims, we gain valuable insights into the religious, cultural, and political environments of both India and China during this time. These exchanges helped preserve and propagate Buddhism, making it one of the most important cultural and religious forces in Asia for centuries to come. The legacy of these pilgrims endures in the form of the texts they brought back, the cultural exchanges they facilitated, and the enduring bonds between the two ancient civilizations. shutdown123