Yijing (635–713CE), formerly romanized as I-ching or I-tsing,[1] born Zhang Wenming, was a Tang-eraChineseBuddhist monk famed as a traveller and translator. His account of his travels is an important source for the history of the medieval kingdoms along the sea route between China and India, especially Srivijaya in Indonesia. A student of the Buddhist university at Nālandā (now in Bihar, India), he was also responsible for the translation of many Buddhist texts from Sanskrit and Pali into Chinese.
Yijing was born Zhang Wenming. He became a monk at age 14 and was an admirer of Faxian, a famed monk who traveled to India in the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Provided funding by an otherwise unknown benefactor named Fong, he decided to visit the renowned Buddhist university of Nālandā, in Bihar, India, to further study Buddhism. Traveling by a boat out of Guangzhou, he arrived in Srivijaya (today's Palembang of Sumatra) after 22 days, where he spent the next six months learning Sanskrit grammar and the Malay language. He went on to record visits to the nations of Malayu and Kiteh (Kedah).
In 673 after ten days of additional travel reached the "naked kingdom" (south west of Shu). Yijing recorded his impression of the "Kunlun peoples", using an ancient Chinese word for Malay peoples. "Kunlun people have curly hair, dark bodies, bare feet and wear sarongs." He then arrived at the East coast of India, where he met a senior monk and stayed a year to study Sanskrit. Both later followed a group of merchants and visited 30 other principalities. Halfway to Nālandā, Yijing fell sick and was unable to walk. Gradually he was left behind by the group. He walked to Nālandā where he stayed for 11 years.
Returning to Srivijaya
In 687, Yijing stopped in the kingdom of Srivijaya on his way back to Tang China. At that time, Palembang was a centre of Buddhism where foreign scholars gathered, and Yijing stayed there for two years to translate original Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures into Chinese. In the year 689 he returned to Guangzhou to obtain ink and papers[citation needed] (note: Srivijaya then had no paper and ink[citation needed]) and returned again to Srivijaya the same year.
Return to China
In 695, he completed all translation works and finally returned to China at Luoyang and received a grand welcome back by Empress Wu Zetian. His total journey took 25 years. He brought back some 400 Buddhist texts translated into Chinese.[2][3]
The Account of Buddhism sent from the South Seas and Buddhist Monk's Pilgrimage of the Tang Dynasty are two of Yijing's best travel diaries, describing his adventurous journey to Srivijaya and India, reporting on the society of India, the lifestyles of various local peoples, and more.
Distribution of Buddhist traditions
In the great majority of areas in India, Yijing writes that there were followers of both "vehicles" (Skt. Yana), with some Buddhists practicing according to the "Hinayana" and others practicing according to the Mahayana.[4] However, he describes Northern India and most of the islands of the South Seas (i.e. Sumatra, Java, etc.) as principally "Hīnayāna." In contrast, the Buddhists in China and Malayu are described as principally following the Mahāyāna.[5]
Yijing wrote about relationship between the various "vehicles" and the early Buddhist schools in India. He wrote, "There exist in the West numerous subdivisions of the schools which have different origins, but there are only four principal schools of continuous tradition." These schools are namely the Mahāsāṃghika, Sthavira, Mulasarvastivada, and Saṃmitīya nikāyas.[6] Explaining their doctrinal affiliations, he then writes, "Which of the four schools should be grouped with the Mahāyāna or with the Hīnayāna is not determined." That is to say, there was no simple correspondence between a monastic sect and whether its members learned "Hīnayāna" or "Mahāyāna" teachings.[7]
The depiction of I-Tsing (Yi Jing) 7th century pilgrim that visited Srivijaya. Displayed in Kedatuan Sriwijaya temporary exhibition, November 2017, in the National Museum of Indonesia.
Yijing praised the high level of Buddhist scholarship in Srivijaya (modern-day Sumatra) and advised Chinese monks to study there prior to making the journey to Nalanda in India.
In the fortified city of Bhoga, Buddhist priests number more than 1,000, whose minds are bent on learning and good practice. They investigate and study all the subjects that exist just as in India; the rules and ceremonies are not at all different. If a Chinese priest wishes to go to the West in order to hear and read the original scriptures, he had better stay here one or two years and practice the proper rules....
Yijing's visits to Srivijaya gave him the opportunity to meet with others who had come from other neighboring islands. According to him, the Javanese kingdom of Ho-ling (Kalingga Kingdom) was due east of the city of Bhoga at a distance that could be spanned by a four or five days' journey by sea. He also wrote that Buddhism was flourishing throughout the islands of Southeast Asia. "Many of the kings and chieftains in the islands of the Southern Sea admire and believe in Buddhism, and their hearts are set on accumulating good actions."
Translations into Chinese
Yijing translated more than 60 texts into Chinese, including:
^Schoff, Wilfred Harvey, ed. (1912), Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Philadelphia: Commercial Museum, p. 213.
^南海寄歸內法傳 Account of Buddhism sent from the South Seas
^大唐西域求法高僧傳 Buddhist Monk's Pilgrimage of the Tang Dynasty
^Yijing. Takakusu, J. (tr.) A Record of the Buddhist Religion As Practiced in India and the Malay Archipelago. 1896. p. xxv
^Yijing. Takakusu, J. (tr.) A Record of the Buddhist Religion As Practiced in India and the Malay Archipelago. 1896. p. xxv
^Walser, Joseph (2005) Nagarjuna in Context: Mahayana Buddhism and Early Indian Culture: pp. 41
^Walser, Joseph (2005) Nagarjuna in Context: Mahayana Buddhism and Early Indian Culture: pp. 41-42
Sources
Dutt S, Buddhist Monks and Monasteries of India, with the translation of passages (given by Latika Lahiri to S. Dutt, see note 2 p. 311) from Yijing's book: Buddhist Pilgrim Monks of Tang Dynasty as an appendix. London, 1952
I-Tsing, A Record of the Buddhist Religion : As Practised in India and the Malay Archipelago (A.D. 671-695), Translated by J. Takakusu, Clarendon press 1896. Reprint. New Delhi, AES, 2005, ISBN81-206-1622-7. Internet Archive
I-Tsing, Chinese Monks in India, Biography of Eminent Monks Who Went to the Western World in Search of the Law During the Great tang Dynasty, Translated by Latika Lahiri, Delhi, etc.: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986
Sen, T. (2006). , Education About Asia 11 (3), 24-33
Yijing, Rongxi, Li, transl. (2000). A Record of the Inner Law Sent Home from the South Seas(pdf available on the page), Berkeley CA: Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai. ISBN1-886439-09-5.
yijing, monk, yijing, formerly, romanized, ching, tsing, born, zhang, wenming, tang, chinese, buddhist, monk, famed, traveller, translator, account, travels, important, source, history, medieval, kingdoms, along, route, between, china, india, especially, srivi. Yijing 635 713 CE formerly romanized as I ching or I tsing 1 born Zhang Wenming was a Tang era Chinese Buddhist monk famed as a traveller and translator His account of his travels is an important source for the history of the medieval kingdoms along the sea route between China and India especially Srivijaya in Indonesia A student of the Buddhist university at Nalanda now in Bihar India he was also responsible for the translation of many Buddhist texts from Sanskrit and Pali into Chinese YijingArtist impression of YijingBorn635 CEFanyang Yanjing Tang EmpireDied713 CEChang an now Xi an Occupation s Buddhist monk travelerPersonalReligionBuddhismSenior postingTeacherShi Huen clarification needed YijingExcerpt of a scroll from Yijing s Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia Tenri Nara JapanTraditional Chinese義淨Simplified Chinese义净TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinYijingWade GilesI chingI ChingBuddhist titleTraditional Chinese三藏法師義淨Simplified Chinese三藏法师义净Literal meaningTripitaka Dharma Master YijingTranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinSanzang Fǎshi YijingWade GilesSan tsang Fa shih I chingZhang WenmingTraditional Chinese張文明Simplified Chinese张文明TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhang WenmingWade GilesChang Wen mingYijing s travel map of the 7th century In this Chinese name the family name is Zhang Contents 1 Journey 1 1 To Srivijaya and Nalanda 1 2 Returning to Srivijaya 1 3 Return to China 2 Distribution of Buddhist traditions 3 Buddhism in Srivijaya 4 Translations into Chinese 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Sources 7 External linksJourney EditTo Srivijaya and Nalanda Edit Yijing was born Zhang Wenming He became a monk at age 14 and was an admirer of Faxian a famed monk who traveled to India in the 4th and 5th centuries CE Provided funding by an otherwise unknown benefactor named Fong he decided to visit the renowned Buddhist university of Nalanda in Bihar India to further study Buddhism Traveling by a boat out of Guangzhou he arrived in Srivijaya today s Palembang of Sumatra after 22 days where he spent the next six months learning Sanskrit grammar and the Malay language He went on to record visits to the nations of Malayu and Kiteh Kedah In 673 after ten days of additional travel reached the naked kingdom south west of Shu Yijing recorded his impression of the Kunlun peoples using an ancient Chinese word for Malay peoples Kunlun people have curly hair dark bodies bare feet and wear sarongs He then arrived at the East coast of India where he met a senior monk and stayed a year to study Sanskrit Both later followed a group of merchants and visited 30 other principalities Halfway to Nalanda Yijing fell sick and was unable to walk Gradually he was left behind by the group He walked to Nalanda where he stayed for 11 years Returning to Srivijaya Edit In 687 Yijing stopped in the kingdom of Srivijaya on his way back to Tang China At that time Palembang was a centre of Buddhism where foreign scholars gathered and Yijing stayed there for two years to translate original Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures into Chinese In the year 689 he returned to Guangzhou to obtain ink and papers citation needed note Srivijaya then had no paper and ink citation needed and returned again to Srivijaya the same year Return to China Edit In 695 he completed all translation works and finally returned to China at Luoyang and received a grand welcome back by Empress Wu Zetian His total journey took 25 years He brought back some 400 Buddhist texts translated into Chinese 2 3 The Account of Buddhism sent from the South Seas and Buddhist Monk s Pilgrimage of the Tang Dynasty are two of Yijing s best travel diaries describing his adventurous journey to Srivijaya and India reporting on the society of India the lifestyles of various local peoples and more Distribution of Buddhist traditions EditIn the great majority of areas in India Yijing writes that there were followers of both vehicles Skt Yana with some Buddhists practicing according to the Hinayana and others practicing according to the Mahayana 4 However he describes Northern India and most of the islands of the South Seas i e Sumatra Java etc as principally Hinayana In contrast the Buddhists in China and Malayu are described as principally following the Mahayana 5 Yijing wrote about relationship between the various vehicles and the early Buddhist schools in India He wrote There exist in the West numerous subdivisions of the schools which have different origins but there are only four principal schools of continuous tradition These schools are namely the Mahasaṃghika Sthavira Mulasarvastivada and Saṃmitiya nikayas 6 Explaining their doctrinal affiliations he then writes Which of the four schools should be grouped with the Mahayana or with the Hinayana is not determined That is to say there was no simple correspondence between a monastic sect and whether its members learned Hinayana or Mahayana teachings 7 Buddhism in Srivijaya EditMain article Srivijaya The depiction of I Tsing Yi Jing 7th century pilgrim that visited Srivijaya Displayed in Kedatuan Sriwijaya temporary exhibition November 2017 in the National Museum of Indonesia Yijing praised the high level of Buddhist scholarship in Srivijaya modern day Sumatra and advised Chinese monks to study there prior to making the journey to Nalanda in India In the fortified city of Bhoga Buddhist priests number more than 1 000 whose minds are bent on learning and good practice They investigate and study all the subjects that exist just as in India the rules and ceremonies are not at all different If a Chinese priest wishes to go to the West in order to hear and read the original scriptures he had better stay here one or two years and practice the proper rules Yijing s visits to Srivijaya gave him the opportunity to meet with others who had come from other neighboring islands According to him the Javanese kingdom of Ho ling Kalingga Kingdom was due east of the city of Bhoga at a distance that could be spanned by a four or five days journey by sea He also wrote that Buddhism was flourishing throughout the islands of Southeast Asia Many of the kings and chieftains in the islands of the Southern Sea admire and believe in Buddhism and their hearts are set on accumulating good actions Translations into Chinese EditYijing translated more than 60 texts into Chinese including Mulasarvastivada Vinaya 一切有部毗奈耶 Golden Light Sutra 金光明最勝王經 in 703 Diamond Sutra 能斷金剛般若波羅蜜多經 T 239 in 703 Sutra of the Original Vows of the Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Radiance and the Seven Past Buddhas 藥師琉璃光七佛本願功德經 T 451 in 707 Avadanas 譬喻經 in 710See also Edit China portal Religion portalFaxian Chinese Buddhism A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea Song Yun Xuanzang Vikramashila Hyecho Great Tang Records on the Western Regions Wang ocheonchukguk jeonReferences EditCitations Edit Schoff Wilfred Harvey ed 1912 Periplus of the Erythraean Sea Philadelphia Commercial Museum p 213 南海寄歸內法傳 Account of Buddhism sent from the South Seas 大唐西域求法高僧傳 Buddhist Monk s Pilgrimage of the Tang Dynasty Yijing Takakusu J tr A Record of the Buddhist Religion As Practiced in India and the Malay Archipelago 1896 p xxv Yijing Takakusu J tr A Record of the Buddhist Religion As Practiced in India and the Malay Archipelago 1896 p xxv Walser Joseph 2005 Nagarjuna in Context Mahayana Buddhism and Early Indian Culture pp 41 Walser Joseph 2005 Nagarjuna in Context Mahayana Buddhism and Early Indian Culture pp 41 42 Sources Edit Dutt S Buddhist Monks and Monasteries of India with the translation of passages given by Latika Lahiri to S Dutt see note 2 p 311 from Yijing s book Buddhist Pilgrim Monks of Tang Dynasty as an appendix London 1952 I Tsing A Record of the Buddhist Religion As Practised in India and the Malay Archipelago A D 671 695 Translated by J Takakusu Clarendon press 1896 Reprint New Delhi AES 2005 ISBN 81 206 1622 7 Internet Archive I Tsing Chinese Monks in India Biography of Eminent Monks Who Went to the Western World in Search of the Law During the Great tang Dynasty Translated by Latika Lahiri Delhi etc Motilal Banarsidass 1986 Sen T 2006 The Travel Records of Chinese Pilgrims Faxian Xuanzang and Yijing Education About Asia 11 3 24 33 Weerawardane Prasani 2009 Journey to the West Dusty Roads Stormy Seas and Transcendence biblioasia 5 2 14 18 Yijing Rongxi Li transl 2000 A Record of the Inner Law Sent Home from the South Seas pdf available on the page Berkeley CA Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai ISBN 1 886439 09 5 External links Edithttp www buddhanet net bodh gaya bodh gaya01 htm http www iranchamber com culture articles iranian cultural impact southeastasia php Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yijing monk amp oldid 1140701344, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
