Official Sacred Record
LEGACY
Humanities Scholar Xuanzang's reading records
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I n t r o d u c t i o n
「Great Tang Records on the Western Regions」 Xuanzang
Humanities ScholarCN602 — 664
A Buddhist monk and translator of the Tang dynasty. He undertook a pilgrimage to India, translated 657 Buddhist scriptures into Chinese, and authored the *Great Tang Records on the Western Regions*.
“I would rather die going west than live by retreating east.”
C o n t e m p o r a r i e s
L i b r a r y
Cultural Journey
How cultural experiences shaped this figure's life
Xuanzang is a man who cannot endure contradictions in texts. He was said to grasp a Buddhist scripture perfectly in two readings from an early age — a reader of extraordinary ability — yet what drove him to India was not talent but dissatisfaction. The contradictions and inconsistencies among Buddhist scriptures transmitted to China tormented him. No Chinese master could resolve these contradictions. Xuanzang crossed the frontier with the single determination to verify the originals directly. The rage at imperfect translations triggered the greatest pilgrimage of spiritual seeking in human history.
The seventeen years of travel are the largest original-text collation project in the world. Studying Vijnanavada under Silabhadra at Nalanda University, Xuanzang directly experienced the depth of Indian Buddhist philosophy. After mastering Sanskrit completely, he verified the errors of the Chinese translations one by one as he read the scriptures in the original language. The declaration "I would rather die going west than live by retreating east" is the declaration born of an obsession with the accuracy of translation. This obsession is not scholarly perfectionism but faith in truth.
After returning home, Xuanzang brought back 657 fascicles of Buddhist scripture and translated 75 works in 1,335 scrolls. Xuanzang's translations of the *Heart Sutra* and the *Diamond Sutra* are used as standard texts to this day. The French sinologist Jacques Gernet assessed Xuanzang as "the only Chinese who truly mastered the breadth and complexity of Indian Buddhist philosophy." For Xuanzang, appreciation is translation, and translation is the act of bridging the gap between civilizations. He is the extreme reader who regarded accurate rendition — not merely reading — as the completion of appreciation.
The seventeen years of travel are the largest original-text collation project in the world. Studying Vijnanavada under Silabhadra at Nalanda University, Xuanzang directly experienced the depth of Indian Buddhist philosophy. After mastering Sanskrit completely, he verified the errors of the Chinese translations one by one as he read the scriptures in the original language. The declaration "I would rather die going west than live by retreating east" is the declaration born of an obsession with the accuracy of translation. This obsession is not scholarly perfectionism but faith in truth.
After returning home, Xuanzang brought back 657 fascicles of Buddhist scripture and translated 75 works in 1,335 scrolls. Xuanzang's translations of the *Heart Sutra* and the *Diamond Sutra* are used as standard texts to this day. The French sinologist Jacques Gernet assessed Xuanzang as "the only Chinese who truly mastered the breadth and complexity of Indian Buddhist philosophy." For Xuanzang, appreciation is translation, and translation is the act of bridging the gap between civilizations. He is the extreme reader who regarded accurate rendition — not merely reading — as the completion of appreciation.
Cultural Journey
How cultural experiences shaped this figure's life
Xuanzang is a man who cannot endure contradictions in texts. He was said to grasp a Buddhist scripture perfectly in two readings from an early age — a reader of extraordinary ability — yet what drove him to India was not talent but dissatisfaction. The contradictions and inconsistencies among Buddhist scriptures transmitted to China tormented him. No Chinese master could resolve these contradictions. Xuanzang crossed the frontier with the single determination to verify the originals directly. The rage at imperfect translations triggered the greatest pilgrimage of spiritual seeking in human history.
The seventeen years of travel are the largest original-text collation project in the world. Studying Vijnanavada under Silabhadra at Nalanda University, Xuanzang directly experienced the depth of Indian Buddhist philosophy. After mastering Sanskrit completely, he verified the errors of the Chinese translations one by one as he read the scriptures in the original language. The declaration "I would rather die going west than live by retreating east" is the declaration born of an obsession with the accuracy of translation. This obsession is not scholarly perfectionism but faith in truth.
After returning home, Xuanzang brought back 657 fascicles of Buddhist scripture and translated 75 works in 1,335 scrolls. Xuanzang's translations of the *Heart Sutra* and the *Diamond Sutra* are used as standard texts to this day. The French sinologist Jacques Gernet assessed Xuanzang as "the only Chinese who truly mastered the breadth and complexity of Indian Buddhist philosophy." For Xuanzang, appreciation is translation, and translation is the act of bridging the gap between civilizations. He is the extreme reader who regarded accurate rendition — not merely reading — as the completion of appreciation.
The seventeen years of travel are the largest original-text collation project in the world. Studying Vijnanavada under Silabhadra at Nalanda University, Xuanzang directly experienced the depth of Indian Buddhist philosophy. After mastering Sanskrit completely, he verified the errors of the Chinese translations one by one as he read the scriptures in the original language. The declaration "I would rather die going west than live by retreating east" is the declaration born of an obsession with the accuracy of translation. This obsession is not scholarly perfectionism but faith in truth.
After returning home, Xuanzang brought back 657 fascicles of Buddhist scripture and translated 75 works in 1,335 scrolls. Xuanzang's translations of the *Heart Sutra* and the *Diamond Sutra* are used as standard texts to this day. The French sinologist Jacques Gernet assessed Xuanzang as "the only Chinese who truly mastered the breadth and complexity of Indian Buddhist philosophy." For Xuanzang, appreciation is translation, and translation is the act of bridging the gap between civilizations. He is the extreme reader who regarded accurate rendition — not merely reading — as the completion of appreciation.
S i g n a t u r eL i n e s
Quote
“I would rather die going west than live by retreating east.”
Greeting
“I will not retreat a single step eastward. I advance only westward.”
“Walking ten thousand li to obtain the original scriptures is only natural.”
“I will correct the distortions in the transmission of the Buddha's teachings.”
Roll Call
“I will not take a single step eastward.”
“The scriptures are waiting — I will answer.”
“Even a journey of seventeen years begins with the first step.”
Deploy
“Advance westward only — do not turn back!”
“Cross the desert and head for India!”
“Set out toward the original scriptures!”
Victory
“A victory as precious as 657 volumes of scripture.”
“The Buddha's teachings have been transmitted faithfully.”
“The journey of ten thousand li was not in vain.”
Draw
“The road has not been cut — it has only grown longer.”
“There are still scriptures left to translate.”
“Compared to the distance to India, this is nothing.”
Defeat
“I would sooner fall in the west than turn back east.”
“Losing the scriptures is what hurts most.”
“Failing to correct the distorted teachings is my deepest regret.”
Strike
“Allow no distortion — not a single character!”
“Break through toward the true scriptures!”
“Do not stop — westward!”
Quote
“I would rather die going west than live by retreating east.”
Greeting
“I will not retreat a single step eastward. I advance only westward.”
“Walking ten thousand li to obtain the original scriptures is only natural.”
“I will correct the distortions in the transmission of the Buddha's teachings.”
Roll Call
“I will not take a single step eastward.”
“The scriptures are waiting — I will answer.”
“Even a journey of seventeen years begins with the first step.”
Deploy
“Advance westward only — do not turn back!”
“Cross the desert and head for India!”
“Set out toward the original scriptures!”
Victory
“A victory as precious as 657 volumes of scripture.”
“The Buddha's teachings have been transmitted faithfully.”
“The journey of ten thousand li was not in vain.”
Draw
“The road has not been cut — it has only grown longer.”
“There are still scriptures left to translate.”
“Compared to the distance to India, this is nothing.”
Defeat
“I would sooner fall in the west than turn back east.”
“Losing the scriptures is what hurts most.”
“Failing to correct the distorted teachings is my deepest regret.”
Strike
“Allow no distortion — not a single character!”
“Break through toward the true scriptures!”
“Do not stop — westward!”
P e r s o n aA n a l y s i s
Overview
Peak diligence and high courage combine to realize a world-historical devotion of 17 years of pilgrimage and 19 years of translation. Strong communal orientation and loyalty express as a mission for all of East Asian Buddhism beyond individual practice, while bold disposition and optimism enable the historic decision to depart without imperial permission.
Core Abilities
Command58
Martial50
Intellect90
Charm72
Inner Virtues
Temperance78
Diligence95
Reflection82
Courage92
Outer Virtues
Loyalty85
Benevolence73
Fairness65
Humility70
Core Disposition
Pessimism
Optimism
Conservative
Progressive
Individual
Social
Cautious
Bold
Similar Figures
Overview
Peak diligence and high courage combine to realize a world-historical devotion of 17 years of pilgrimage and 19 years of translation. Strong communal orientation and loyalty express as a mission for all of East Asian Buddhism beyond individual practice, while bold disposition and optimism enable the historic decision to depart without imperial permission.
Core Abilities
Command58
Martial50
Intellect90
Charm72
Inner Virtues
Temperance78
Diligence95
Reflection82
Courage92
Outer Virtues
Loyalty85
Benevolence73
Fairness65
Humility70
Core Disposition
Pessimism
Optimism
Conservative
Progressive
Individual
Social
Cautious
Bold
Similar Figures
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