Travel with Xuanzang

Author: Zhang Ou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: In pursuit of the truth of Buddhist teachings, Xuanzang could defy the Tang Dynasty's prohibition on traveling abroad with a humble demeanor. In 629 AD, he sneaked out of the country in a rather unimpressive manner; in 645 AD, he returned to Chang'an in great style, carrying 657 "true scriptures." Not only does The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions record the 110 countries Xuanzang personally visited and the 28 city-states he learned about through hearsay, but it is also a record of Xuanzang's solitary spirit gazing down upon the mortal world. This cultural travelogue has repeatedly inspired me to explore the Xuanzang Road. In early 1991, by sheer coincidence, I finally had the opportunity to embark on this sacred journey—though it was primarily to document the cultural and historical aspects of Central Asia across different eras, it was inevitably intertwined with a series of footprints that had originated from the Tang Dynasty. During the interviews and filming, I often found myself in the same space as Xuanzang. Despite the 1,300 years that separated us, I frequently felt an inexplicable surge of emotion, making it difficult for me to distinguish between history and reality. The sky was growing dim, and I had to keep moving.