THE UNKNOWN HSUAN-TSANG

About the Book:

The book fills up a significant gap about the information available on the life of the illustrious Buddhist scholar, Hsuan-tang, who visited India in the seventh century AD. While his experiences and observations from these travels are will documented and easily accessible to the English-speaking world, there is a silence on the years that followed his return to China in AD 645. Works that translated Chinese and Uigur tests on the life of Hsuan-tsang into German and French were in print as early as the 1850s, but have not been available to a wider audience.

This book brings together a selection of the available material, freshly translated into English. Devahuti's introduction and summary of life bring out, in sharp focus, the contributions and impact of Hsuan-tsang. This work stands out for its in-depth research and use of original sources. It will be a valuable addition to the existing literature on Hsuan-tsang and Buddhism of the time, and opens new areas for further research and analysis.

REVIEWS:

While Hsuan-tsang's experiences and observations are will documented and easily accessible to the English-speaking world, there is silence on the years that followed his return to China in AD 645. This volume puts together a rere selection of sources on Hsuan-tsang's life and seminal contribution to Buddhism.

On account o the richness and originality of source material, this Book will be a significant read for scholars and students of early Indian history, Buddhist, and religious studies. The readership would also include followers of Buddhism, tourists, and an informed general audience.

'The Unknown Hsuan-tsang…. adds to as well as updates our knowledge of source material on the life and work of the Buddhist pilgrim from China…. Comparative study of various versions in different languages of the same text…reflects the high competence and hard work of Devahuti in this context.'

-Economic and Political Weekly

'……a valuable addition to the scholarship on Hsuang Tsang. Of interest to the scholar and non-specialist alike, the book is a compilation of excerpts from old and recent translations… of Hsuang Tsang's writings.'

-Frontline

'….it is an achievement that through the publication of this volume most of this work will not be wasted and can be quoted by future scholars. It is, of course, of special interest to those working on the links between India and China.'

-CIAA Newsletter

About the Author:

The late D. Devahuti (1929-88) specialized in ancient Indian and early South-east Asian history. She taught at the universities of Malaya and Queensland. Her last teaching assignment was with the history department of University of Delhi. Some of her other works include Harsha: A political Study, India and Ancient Malaya, Problems of Indian Historiography, and Bias in Indian Historiography.