Chinese Monks in India

Buddhism was the first step in the Sino-Indian cultural relationship. It provided a common ground for the exchange of ideas and spirituality between India and China. This work is a translation from a seventh-century text Kao-Seng-Chuan (“Biographies Eminent Monks”) by I-Ching, a renowned Chinese monk-scholar (A.D. 614-713). It contains 56 biographies. Among the Chinese pilgrim-monk-scholars who visited India, Fa-Hsien, Hsuan-chuang and I-Ching are best known for having played the greatest role in the history of Sino-Indian cultural relation. The 56 monks who traveled on adventurous adventures and shared their experiences in this book are just as important as the active promoters for the best relations between these two great nations. Many of these 56 monks came from China to visit India for pilgrimage or to collect texts that would enrich Buddhist literature in India. I-Ching also gives a detailed, but not exhaustive, account of how the University of Nalanda attracted many Chinese monks to higher education. I-Ching’s book provokes thought. It is written with clarity, realism, and insight. These features are preserved in the translation, which will no doubt spark interest from scholars and general readers.