A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms / Being an account by the Chinese monk Fa-hsien of travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist books of discipline

Name: A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms / Being an account by the Chinese monk Fa-hsien of travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist books of discipline
Author: Faxian

By Faxian

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Archaeology & Anthropology History - Ancient Religion/Spirituality Travel Writing

About This Book

The narrative records a fifth-century Chinese monk's pilgrimage to South Asia to seek canonical Buddhist texts, describing routes, cities, monasteries, relics, and religious practices encountered. It combines travel observations — geography, local customs, and logistical hardships — with precise notes on monastic discipline, sacred sites, and textual transmission. Interspersed are catalogues of scriptures, accounts of holy places and ceremonies, and reflections on doctrinal variants, all presented in a matter-of-fact, episodic travel log supplemented by scholarly annotations and textual appendices.

About the Author

Faxian

Faxian was a Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler who lived during the early 5th century. He is best known for his work "A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms," which chronicles his journey to India and Ceylon between A.D. 399 and 414. This account provides valuable insights into the cultural and religious practices of the time, as well as the geography and society of the regions he visited. Faxian's travels were motivated by his quest for Buddhist texts, and his writings have contributed significantly to the understanding of early Buddhism and its dissemination across Asia.