The Pilgrimage Of Fa Hian

Fa Hian, the Chinese Buddhist monk was the first pilgrim to cross the wastes of central Asia, penetrate India proper, and successfully return to China to record his experiences. ?When I look back on what I have gone through,? he said about his stupendous undertakings, ?my heart is involuntarily moved and the perspiration flows forth. That I have encountered danger and trod the most perilous places, without thinking of or sparing myself, was because I had a definite aim, and though of nothing but to do my best in my simplicity and straightforwardness. Thus it was that I exposed my life where death seemed inevitable, if I might accomplish but a ten thousands parts of what I hoped.? The present work is the English version of the second revised edition of Abel Remusat?s French translation of Fa Hian?s text. Klaporth and Landresse, while carrying out the revision, have added copious notes and comments which greatly increase the value of the book. Further, Klaporth decided Remusat?s text which, following the Chinese original ran on without a break, into forty chapters. This division has been found so useful that all later translators ? Beal, Giles, Legge et al. ? while acknowledging the value and authority of Remusat?s work, have incorporated the scheme in their own translations. Although Fa Hian?s work mainly discusses items of Buddhist interest, it nevertheless offers valuable information concerning life and conditions in Central Asia, India and Ceylon in those remote times and remains one of the great Chinese sources for the history and geography of these regions.