The Travels of Fa-hsien (399-414 A.D.), Or Record of the Buddhistic KingdomsOriginally published in 1923, this edition of The Travels of Fa-hsien was translated into English by H. A. Giles (1845-1935), a scholar of Chinese language and culture who helped popularize the Wade-Giles system for the Romanization of the Chinese languages. The Travels relates the story of Fa-hsien's journey from Central China across the Gobi Desert, over the Hindu Kush, and through India down to the mouth of the Hoogly, where he took a ship and returned to China by sea, bringing with him the books of the Buddhist Canon and images of Buddhist deities. This is a fascinating text that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Buddhism and Chinese literature. |
Common terms and phrases
Abhidharma Ajatasatru alms-bowl Ananda Asoka B6 tree Bodhisatva bowl Brahmans Buddha sat Buddhist Buddhistic Kingdoms built a pagoda built a shrine cave Central India Ch‘ang-an Chin dynasty China Chinese dévas disciples dragon east eastward elephant expounded the Faith feet in height fifty find finished first five hundred flight flourishing flowers and incense four four heavenly kings Gandhara Garden of Gold gate Greater Vehicle heaven Heir Apparent heretics Hui-ching Hui-ta image of Buddha Indra journeyed Kasyapa Khotan king Asoka Kuan Yin Lesser Vehicle Liang dynasty Lo-han Maitreya meditation merchants monastery mountain Mugalan Narrative of Fa-hsien Nirvana offerings of flowers oflicial Pao-yiin passed Pataliputra Peshawur pilgrims arrived place where Buddha point travelling preach the Faith Precious Trinity priesthood reached reflected religious mendicant rock round Sariputra seven days seven preciosities Sfitras Shakyamuni Shamans side skull-bone spot stone Tao-chéng Thou shalt thousand priests Tun-huang Udyana World-Honoured yojanas