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In the reign of Chandragupta Maurya II, Fa-Hien also known as Faxien became the first Chinese pilgrim to visit India. The sole purpose of Fa-Hien’s visiting India was to look out for sacred texts of the Buddism religion. Fa-Hien, a Chinese monk, set out on a pilgrimage in 399 CE to find and preserve Buddhist knowledge. He travelled through Central Asia to India, witnessing Buddhist sites and learning Sanskrit. In India, he spent time studying in Pataliputra (Presently a place in Bihar) during Chandragupta II’s rule and visited key pilgrimage locations. Fa-Hien’s journey documented the religious landscape and cities of Central and Middle India.
Fa Hein And His Life
The first Chinese pilgrim to visit India, Fa Hein’s pilgrimage extended to key Buddhist sites like Sravasti, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, and Rajgir.
| Aspect | Details |
| Birth | 337 CE |
| Death | Around 422 CE |
| Occupation | Chinese Buddhist monk and translator |
| Journey Duration | From 399 to 412 CE |
| Main Route | From China to India, visiting sacred Buddhist sites in Central, South, and Southeast Asia |
| Time in India | Spent approximately 10 years |
| Travelogue | A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms (Foguo Ji) |
| Significance | Provides an independent record of early Buddhism in India; brought back a large number of Sanskrit texts influencing East Asian Buddhism |
| Contribution | Translated Sanskrit texts, influencing East Asian Buddhism; provided terminus ante quem for historical names, events, texts, and ideas |
Fa Hein’s Pilgrimage to India
Fa-Hien, travelled through Asia seeking knowledge. After spending six years in India during Chandragupta II’s reign, he returned to China. Despite the long stay, his focus remained on Buddhism. He wrote extensively about Pataliputra, noting its renewed importance under Chandragupta II compared to previous rulers. While Fa-hien didn’t provide a detailed account of the emperor’s rule, his descriptions of the city and its scholarly monks offer glimpses into the Gupta era.
| The Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC) | How Did Chandragupta Maurya Die? |
| Who is the son of Chandragupta Maurya? | Second Buddhist Council |
| Buddhist Education System | Fourth Buddhist Council |
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