Si-Yu-Ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World (2 Volumes in 1): Translated from the Chinese of Hiuen Tsiang AD 629 (inlcudes a sketch map)

This book is a gripping record of the travels by the celebrated Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsiang, born in 603. He was the youngest of four brothers and was ordained into the Ising-tu temple at the age of 13. In this translation of Buddhist Records of the Western World, Samuel Beal has also included the early travel writings of Hiuen Tsiang’s predecessoINR The principal Chinese Buddhist Pilgrims who visited India before Hiuen Tsiang and wrote the accounts of their travels were Fa-hien, Sung-Yun and Hwei-Sang and I-tsing during the early centuries of the Christian era. The records are very interesting as they refer to the geography, history, manners and religion of the people of the countries West of China, of India in particular. The book is an interesting read and highlights Hiuen Tsiang’s fascinating journey starting from China, covering Central Asia and finally into India where he spent about eight years, including fifteen months at Nalanda where he learnt the Yogacara doctrine which he afterwards enunciated in a book on his return to his country. Samuel Beal was an Oriental scholar, who translated many early Chinese texts into English.