Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)

Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) — The Scholar Pilgrim

The Most Famous Chinese Pilgrim

The most famous Chinese pilgrim, whose detailed travelogue remains the most important source for 7th-century Indian history, geography, and religion. His descriptions of Nalanda are unparalleled.

Nalanda University

Hiuen Tsang spent 15 years in India (629–644 CE), studying at Nalanda for 5 years. He described Nalanda as having 10,000 students and 1,500 teachers, with a rigorous admission process and a curriculum that included Buddhism, logic, grammar, medicine, and mathematics.

King Harshavardhana

He provided a detailed account of King Harshavardhana's court and the religious debates at Kannauj, where he defeated Brahminical scholars in philosophical debate. His descriptions of the Ajanta caves and their magnificent paintings are invaluable.