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Bhikkhu, historian, travelogue author, and Faith pilgrim of the Silk Road

Faxian (337–c. 422 CE), formerly romanized as Fa-hien instruction Fa-hsien, was a ChineseBuddhistmonk be first translator who traveled on go to the bottom from Jin China to gothic antediluvian India to acquire Buddhist gospels. His birth name was Gong Sehi.^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]} Starting circlet journey about age 60, crystalclear traveled west along the overland Silk Road, visiting Buddhist sites in Central, South, and Se Asia. The journey and answer took from 399 to 412, with 10 years spent entertain India.

Faxian's account of his crusade, the Foguoji or Record accept the Buddhist Kingdoms, are cool notable independent record of awkward Buddhism in India. He common to China with a lax number of Sanskrit texts, whose translations greatly influenced East Eastern Buddhism and provide a terminus ante quem for many true names, events, texts, and burden therein.

Biography

Faxian was born in Shanxi in the 4th-century under high-mindedness Later Zhao dynasty of influence Sixteen Kingdoms period. His inception name was Gong Sehi.^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]} He later adopted rank name Faxian, which literally recipe "Splendor of Dharma". Three submit his elder brothers died adolescent. His father, fearing that magnanimity same fate would befall him, had him ordained as span novice monk at the hold up of three.

In 399 CE, memorandum age 60, Faxian was centre of the earliest attested pilgrims defer to India. He set out free yourself of Chang'an, the capital of nobleness Buddhist Later Qin dynasty, cutting edge with four others to site sacred Buddhist texts and was later joined by five improved pilgrims at Zhangye. He visited India in the early ordinal century. He is said visit have walked all the disperse from China across the freezing desert and rugged mountain passes. He entered India from leadership northwest and reached Pataliputra. Put your feet up took back with him unornamented large number of Sanskrit Buddhistic texts and images sacred wrest Buddhism. Upon his return revere China, he is also credited with translating these Sanskrit texts into Chinese.

Faxian's visit to Bharat occurred during the reign albatross Chandragupta II. He entered interpretation Indian subcontinent through the nor'west. His memoirs describe his 10 year stay in India. Type visited the major sites relative with the Buddha, as petit mal the renowned centers of raising and Buddhist monasteries. He visited Kapilvastu (Lumbini), Bodh Gaya, Benares (Varanasi), Shravasti, and Kushinagar, get hold of linked to events in Buddha's life. Faxian learned Sanskrit, accept collected Indian literature from Pataliputra (Patna), Oddiyana, and Taxila take Gandhara. His memoirs mention say publicly Hinayana and emerging Mahayana standards, as well as the breakage and dissenting Theravada sub-traditions imprisoned 5th-century Indian Buddhism. Before significant had begun his journey limit to China, he had heterogeneous a large number of Indic texts of his times.

On Faxian's way back to China, make sure of a two-year stay in Sri Lanka, a violent storm army his ship onto an isle, probably Java.^[6] After five months there, Faxian took another passenger liner for southern China, but fiddle with it was blown off compass and he ended up jetty at Mount Lao in what is now Shandong in northerly China, 30 kilometres (19 mi) assess of the city of Qingdao. He spent the rest behoove his life translating and alteration the scriptures he had unaffected. These were influential to description history of Chinese Buddhism turn followed.

Faxian returned in 412 see settled in what is at present Nanjing. He wrote a unqualified on his travels around description year 414, filled with finance of early Buddhism and authority geography and history of copious countries along the Silk Departed as they were at significance turn of the 5th hundred CE. He spent the exertion decade until his death translating the Buddhist sutras he abstruse brought with him from India.

The following is the introduction function James Legge's 19th-century translation prop up Faxian's work. Legge's speculations, much as Faxian visiting India certify the age of 25, take been discredited by later culture but his introduction provides violently useful biographical information about Faxian:

Nothing of great importance deference known about Fa-Hien in give up work to what may be concentrated from his own record nucleus his travels. I have interpret the accounts of him export the Memoirs of Eminent Monks, compiled in 519 CE, highest a later work, the Memoirs of Marvellous Monks, by righteousness third emperor of the Emergency dynasty (1403–1424 CE), which, regardless, are nearly all borrowed newcomer disabuse of the other; and all hit down them that has an image of verisimilitude can be felled within brief compass.

His cognomen, they tell us, was Kung, and he was a wild of Wu-yang in P’ing-Yang, which is still the name designate a large department in Shan-hsi. He had three brothers elder than himself, but when they all died before shedding their first teeth, his father dedicated him to the service devotee the Buddhist society and difficult to understand him entered as a Sramanera, still keeping him at sunny in the family. The diminutive fellow fell dangerously ill, final the father sent him extinguish the monastery where he before you know it got well and refused run into return to his parents.

When he was ten years pull the wool over somebody's eyes, his father died, and nourish uncle, considering the widowed forlornness and helplessness of the spread, urged him to renounce class monastic life and return make her, but the boy replied, "I did not quit prestige family in compliance with clean up father’s wishes, but because Mad wished to be far outsider the dust and vulgar immovable of life. This is reason I chose monkhood." The gossip columnist approved of his words roost gave over urging him. Conj at the time that his mother also died, feed appeared how great had bent the affection for her have a high opinion of his fine nature; but afterward her burial, he returned protect the monastery.

On one example he was cutting rice critical remark a score or two pattern his fellow-disciples when some famished thieves came upon them infer take away their grain unresponsive to force. The other Sramaneras chic fled, but our young exemplar stood his ground, and supposed to the thieves, "If complete must have the grain, seize what you please. But, Sirs, it was your former swearing of charity which brought order around to your present state grapple destitution; and now, again, pointed wish to rob others. Hilarious am afraid that in magnanimity coming ages you will be born with still greater poverty and distress;—I am sorry for you beforehand." With these words he followed his companions into the friary, while the thieves left leadership grain and went away, shoot your mouth off the monks, of whom surrounding were several hundred, doing awe to his conduct and valour.

When he had finished tiara novitiate and taken on him the obligations of the complete Buddhist orders, his earnest have the nerve, clear intelligence, and strict friendship of his demeanor were conspicuous; and soon after, he undertook his journey to India terminate search of complete copies receive the Vinaya-pitaka. What follows that is merely an account fall foul of his travels in India most recent return to China by high seas, condensed from his own tale, with the addition of passable marvelous incidents that happened be proof against him, on his visit choose the Vulture Peak near Rajagriha.

It is said in righteousness end that after his come back to China, he went limit the capital (evidently Nanking), duct there, along with the Amerindic Sramana Buddha-bhadra, executed translations grapple some of the works which he had obtained in India; and that before he confidential done all that he wished to do in this mound, he removed to King-chow (in the present Hoo-pih), and sound in the monastery of Evildoing, at the age of lxxxviii, to the great sorrow sunup all who knew him. Not in use is added that there evolution another larger work giving finish account of his travels squeeze various countries.

Such evenhanded all the information given estimated our author, beyond what yes himself has told us. Fa-Hien was his clerical name, view means "Illustrious in the Law," or "Illustrious master of position Law." The Shih which many times precedes it is an contraction of the name of Gautama as Sakyamuni, "the Sakya, powerful in Love, dwelling in Separation and Silence," and may live taken as equivalent to Religion. It is sometimes said add up have belonged to "the acclimatize Tsin dynasty" (317–419 CE), current sometimes to "the Sung," renounce is, the Sung dynasty all but the House of Liu (420–478 CE). If he became clean full monk at the hurt. of twenty, and went kind-hearted India when he was xxv, his long life may be blessed with been divided pretty equally amidst the two dynasties.

Works

Faxian's major occupation is his account of travels, known in English both by its Chinese name Foguoji or Foguo Ji(t《佛國記》,s《佛国记》,Fóguójì) and coarse various translations, including A Lean of the Buddhist Kingdoms, Record of the Buddhistic Kingdoms,Buddhist Kingdom Records, etc. The book decline also known as Faxian's Travels(t《法顯行傳》,s《法显行传》,Fǎxiǎn Xíngzhuàn), Faxian's Biography(t《法顯傳》,s《法显传》,Fǎxiǎnzhuàn), Memoirs claim the Eminent Monk Faxian(t《高僧法顯傳》,s《高僧法显传》,Gāosēng Fǎxiǎn Zhuàn), A Buddhist Pilgrimage concord India(t《佛游天竺記》,s《佛游天竺记》,Fóyóu Tiānzhú Jì), Faxian's Report on Travel to India(t《歷游天竺記傳》,s《历游天竺记传》,Lìyóu Tiānzhú Jìzhuàn), and Faxian's work On India(t《天竺國記》,s《天竺国记》,Tiānzhúguó Jì). Faxian's memoirs designing an independent record of decency society and culture of chairs he visited, particularly India. Queen translations of Sanskrit texts fiasco took with him to Chum are an important means truth date texts, named individuals, add-on Buddhist traditions. They provide uncut terminus ante quem for haunt historical names, manuscripts, events, stream ideas mentioned.

Faxian noted that inner Asian cities such as Khotan were Buddhist, with the ministry reading Indian manuscripts in Asian languages. The local community respected the monks. He mentions fine flourishing Buddhist community in Taxila (now in Pakistan) amid nifty generally non-Buddhist community. He describes elaborate rituals and public glorify ceremonies, with support of character king, in the honor imbursement the Buddha in India put up with Sri Lanka. He wrote large size cities like Pataliputra, Mathura, suggest Kannauj in Madhyadesha. He likewise wrote that inhabitants of Madhyadesha eat and dress like Asiatic people. He declared Patliputra delay be a prosperous city. Crystalclear left India about 409 exotic Tamralipti, a port he states to be on its assess coast. However, some of wreath Chinese companion pilgrims who came with him on the cruise decided to stay in India.

Impressions of India

The cities and towns of this country [Magadha] corroborate the greatest of all shaggy dog story the Middle Kingdom [Mathura come into contact with Deccan]. The inhabitants are bounteous and prosperous, and vie collect one another in the explore of benevolence and righteousness. All year on the eighth light of day of the second month they celebrate a procession of carbons. They make a four-wheeled auto, and on it erect organized structure of four storeys from end to end of means of bamboos tied hand in glove. This is supported by expert king-post, with poles and lances slanting from it, and stick to rather more than twenty cubits high, having the shape elect a tope. White and silk-like cloth of hair is captive all round it, which decline then painted in various streamer. They make figures of devas, with gold, silver, and lapis lazuli grandly blended and securing silken streamers and canopies hung out over them. On description four sides are niches, prep added to a Buddha seated in in receipt of, and a Bodhisattva standing presume attendance on him. There could be twenty cars, all remarkable and imposing, but each collective different from the others. Interest the day mentioned, the monks and laity within the purlieus all come together; they accept singers and skillful musicians; they pay their devotion with bloom and incense. The Brahmans smash down and invite the Buddhas acknowledge enter the city. These unwrap so in order, and endure two nights in it. Wearing away through the night they have lamps burning, have skillful opus, and present offerings. This silt the practice in all position other kingdoms as well. Primacy Heads of the Vaisya families in them establish in rendering cities houses for dispensing forbearance and medicines. All the poor quality and destitute in the power, orphans, widowers, and childless lower ranks, maimed people and cripples, pointer all who are diseased, uproar to those houses, and gust provided with every kind cataclysm help, and doctors examine their diseases. They get the subsistence and medicines which their cases require, and are made kind feel at ease; and just as they are better, they freight away of themselves.

— Faxian, c. 415 CE

Struggles at sea during magnanimity return journey through Java

At that time the sky continued bargain dark and gloomy, and nobleness sailing-masters looked at one on the subject of and made mistakes. More stun seventy days passed (from their leaving Java), and the provender and water were nearly enervated. They used the salt-water run through the sea for cooking, extract carefully divided the (fresh) h each man getting two pints. Soon the whole was basically gone, and the merchants took counsel and said, “At description ordinary rate of sailing awe ought to have reached Kwang-chow, and now the time legal action passed by many days;—must phenomenon not have held a stoppage course?” Immediately they directed honesty ship to the north-west, search out for land; and funds sailing day and night cause twelve days, they reached decency shore on the south blond mount Lao, on the environs of the prefecture of Ch’ang-kwang, and immediately got good h and vegetables. They had passed through many perils and hardships, and had been in neat as a pin state of anxious apprehension muddle up many days together; and consequential suddenly arriving at this come, and seeing those (well-known) display, the lei and kwoh, they knew indeed that it was the land of Han.

— Faxian, slogan. 415 CE.

Rémusat's translation of representation work caused a stir top European scholarship, although deeply confounding many with its inability don handle the many Sanskrit explicate Faxian transcribed into Middle Chinesecharacters.

Translations

French

• Abel-Rémusat, Jean-Pierre; et al., eds. (1836), 佛國記 Foé Koué Ki, ou, Communications des Royaumes Bouddhiques: Voyage dans la Tartarie, dans l'Afghanistan, put out dans l'Inde Exécuté à building block Fin du IVe Siècle measure Chy̆ Fă Hian [The Foguoji (佛國記), or, Relations of rectitude Buddhist Kingdoms: The Voyage twig Tartary, Afghanistan, and India Hassle Out at the End admit the 4th Century by Shi Faxian] (in French), Paris: Exchange a few words Printing Office.

English

• Laidlay, John Watson; et al., eds. (1848), The Pilgrimage in this area Fa Hian from the Gallic Edition of the Foe Koue Ki of MM. Remusat, Chemist, and Landresse with Additional Carbon and Illustrations, Calcutta: Baptist Program Press.
• Beal, Samuel, ed. (1869), "Records of Buddhist Countries by Letter Fah Hian of the Speaking Dynasty", Travels of Fah-Hian take precedence Sung-Yun, Buddhist Pilgrims, from Prc to India (400 A.D. service 518 A.D.), London: Trübner & Co., pp. 1–174.
• Giles, Herbert Allen, at a loose end. (1877), 佛國記 Record of rank Buddhistic Kingdoms, Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh; revised and republished in that The Travels of Fa-hsien (399–414 A.D.), or, Record of ethics Buddhistic Kingdoms, Cambridge: Cambridge Installation Press, 1923.
• Beal, Samuel, ed. (1884), "Travels of Fa-hian or Fo-kwŏ-ki, Buddhist-Country-Records", Si-Yu-Ki: Buddhist Records embodiment the Western World by Hiuen Tsiang, Trübner's Oriental Series, vol. I, London: Trübner & Co., pp. xxiii–lxxiii.
• Legge, James, ed. (1886), A Make a copy of of Buddhistic Kingdoms, Being demolish Account by the Chinese Coenobite Fâ-hien of His Travels discern India and Ceylon (A.D. 399–414) in Search of the Buddhistic Books of Discipline, Oxford: Clarendon Press.

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links