A Record of the Buddhist Countries
by Faxian
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Embark on an extraordinary journey with Faxian, a Chinese Buddhist monk whose pilgrimage in search of sacred Buddhist scriptures took him across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka between 399 and 412 AD. In A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms, Faxian meticulously documents his travels, offering a rare glimpse into early Buddhism, and the geographical and cultural landscapes of numerous regions along the Silk Roads at the dawn of the 5th century. His narrative is a treasure trove of historical insights show more and a testament to the spiritual fervor and scholarly dedication that drove him. Through his vivid descriptions and keen observations, readers gain an unparalleled understanding of the religious, cultural, and social milieus of ancient Buddhist kingdoms. This work stands as one of the world's greatest travelogues, enriching our knowledge of Buddhism's early development and the interconnectedness of ancient civilizations. show lessTags
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Faxian (337 – c. 422) was a Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled by foot from China to India, visiting many sacred Buddhist sites in what are now Xinjiang, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka between 399-412 to acquire Buddhist texts. His journey is described in his important travelogue, A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms, Being an Account by the Chinese Monk Fa-Xian of his Travels in India and Ceylon in Search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline. Antiquated transliterations of his name include Fa-Hien and Fa-hsien.
Translated from the French edition. More satisfactory than the English translation of H. A. Giles
A brief translation by H. A. Giles, originally published by Cambridge University Press in 1923
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- Canonical title
- A Record of the Buddhist Countries
- Original title
- 佛国记
- Alternate titles
- A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms
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- Members
- 122
- Popularity
- 266,366
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.30)
- Languages
- Chinese, Czech, English, French
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 23
- ASINs
- 8
