Monk Xuan Zang is not the first one to go abroad to for Buddhist scriptures, but a rather famous one. In this journey, he has to face the danger of being arrested by soldiers for smuggling, but tough weather, shortage of food and robber attack as well. His sacrifice for Buddhism is not strange for us; however, in a time lacking faith, we need to retrace his steps on a pilgrimage.
　　Restore a True Xuanzang
　　Xuanzang was the best known monk with great reputation in the history of Chinese Buddhism and Indian ancient history is reorganized with the help of his masterpiece. However, in China, he is famous just for a ghost novel: Pilgrimage to the West. In this classical masterpiece, he is shaped up as a tedious, softhearted, incompetent and dependent monk. Is Xuanzang really good for nothing in history? Professor Qian Wenzhong from Fudan University narrates the detailed process of Xuanzang’s pilgrimage ina profound and concise way, combining basic historical data from The Western Regions of the Great Tang and abundant study about Sankrit.
　　The Eminent Monk Taking a Shortcut
　　In Xuanzang’s time, the amount of monks was controlled strictly. Only after rigorous examination can he became a monk. Its difficulty can amount to that of today college entrance examination. Despite of lack of experience, Xuanzang was recruited because of his born intelligence. Thus he became one of the fourteen monks formally tonsured and was thought highly of. He not only trudged to India to learn Buddhism systematically, but spread Chinese thoughts and culture to India. When he returned to China, he organized a large-scale translation of the Buddhist Scriptures, which was rarely seen in history,
　　Xuanzang, born at the end of Sui Dynasty, became a monk in his childhood, travelled around in his boyhood and visited many excellent monks. At the age of twenty, he had been popular among people. The most important reason was when sixty-year-old Zhiyan Master met young Xuanzang, he called him “a rising sun”. With such experience, he still could not figure it out and in order to spread Mahayana in the middle earth, he promised to travel to India and obtain the true scripture. He was so resolved that he promised not to return or regret even he died halfway.
　　At that time ,Tang Dynasty was first built and not safe. As the censor and control was very strict, though being a monk, it was not easy for him to go across the boundary. Finally, he got a chance to disguise himself as a refugee and escaped westward. 　　It has been seventeen years since he left home. During the period, he travelled around India, studying, preaching and debating. He was highly recognizable in the West Regions and India. Though he was reluctant to leave the womb of Buddhism, he broke through numerous difficulties and set foot on the homeward journey. He did not forget his promise and decided to make a hit.
　　The returned Master
　　The smuggler youth had become an old master. The emperor Taizong of Tang did not convict him, but provided him a place in the imperial palace to sermon. Shortly afterwards, Xuanzang began his great project of the translation of Buddhist Scriptures. His knowledge was second to no one and his excellent organization ability also promoted the translation work. He worked until the last minute of his life. In the thirty-five years, the translated scriptures amounted to 1,335 volumes, which were almost all of scriptures of Mahayana. Afterwards, Buddhism was on the wane in India. His translated scriptures not only helped the revival of Buddhism, but provided a reference when Indian ancient history was recompiled, which was not foreseen by Xuanzang.
　　This time Professor Qian organized what he studied for many years and discussed with us the pilgrimage of Xuanzang. Noted by Xingyun Master in the preface, the book is to restore a true Xuanzang and to rebuild Xuanzang’s spirit.