Basic Series of National Studies -- Journey to the West in the Tang Dynasty

Author: (Tang) Xuanzang, annotated and translated by Zhou Guolin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-07-01
Features: The Journey to the West of the Tang Dynasty (Da Tang Xi Yu Ji) is a historical and geographical work about the Western Regions written during the Tang Dynasty. The author was the renowned Tang Dynasty monk, Buddhist theorist, and translator Xuanzang. The content of the book is extremely rich, covering various aspects such as geographical features, land and water transportation, climate, local products, ethnic groups, languages, history, politics, economic life, religion, culture, and customs. It provides detailed accounts of the conditions of religious temples and Buddhist legends and stories in different regions. This work was truly invaluable for the Chinese people of that time to understand the outside world. Previously, ancient records of the Western Regions were often filled with myths and legends or had a narrow scope. Xuanzang overcame both of these shortcomings by documenting the historical and geographical conditions of today's Xinjiang, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and adjacent regions based on his observations and experiences. The content is not only rich but also accurate. Numerous archaeological excavations in modern and contemporary times have confirmed the authenticity of Xuanzang's records. This book documents the Buddhist historical facts of the 110 countries Xuanzang visited in the Western Regions and India, as well as the 28 countries he heard about, including customs, industries, and political realities. It is an extremely valuable source of information. Additionally, it records the distances, directions, and correct original languages of the various countries of that time, making it a particularly outstanding ancient geographical work. It also serves as a guidebook to assist archaeological excavations and explorations.