Xaunzang started out as just an ordinary kid in a small village right outside of Luoyang. He grew up like every other kid did, except as he got older he became very passionate and curious about Buddha and the origins of faith. The curiosity that he had ended up leading him in a direction that nobody had ever thought about before, which is why he would end up becoming one of the most famous people in chinese history.
Xuazang’s rode to fame was definitely earned. In his mid 20s, he applied for a foreign travel permit, but his emperor had forbidden travel outside China. This made it tough for Xuanzang, because he respected authority and went back and forth on whether he should leave in secret or just stay. Though he wanted to do the right thing, he believed that going to India was the only way to answer questions that troubled Chinese Buddhists. So despite his friends and everyone telling him not to go and to stay, he set off on his journey to India. His journey was not easy, Xuanzang traveled along what we now know as the Silk Road. He traveled through the desert and harsh mountains for what seemed like forever. Since he was taking the Silk Road, he often passed through countries ruled by powerful leaders who did not want him to keep on traveling. He always knew what to say and would convince them to let him continue. After three years and nearly 5,000 miles, Xuanzang finally made it to India
For the next 16 years, Xuanzang would stay in India, taking in and learning anything and everything about Buddha and their beliefs. He would get to learn from some of the best monks, and would go visit all the holy sites collecting copies of all sacred scriptures to bring back home with him. His trip back would be just as difficult as when he came, except this time people threatened him and tried robbing him on multiple occasions. The setbacks and struggles would not stop him, and on his way back he continued to learn new cultures from the places he visited, while also spreading what he had learned while being in India. When he got back to his homeland, he was considered a fugitive because he had left without being granted to do so, but when he wrote a letter to his emperor explaining what he had learned while being in India for so long, he was let out and praised for what he had done.
Xuazang helped the people of China better understand Buddhast beliefs and everything that goes along with it. He was incredibly brave for doing what he did, and changed the lives for many people by advising and teaching them the manuscripts that he had learned about while being in India. If it weren’t for him being so determined to learn from the greats, we would not be able to understand the Silk Roads or the Buddhist culture as we know it today.
Citations:
Xuanzang: The Monk who Brought Buddhism East. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://asiasociety.org/xuanzang-monk-who-brought-buddhism-east
The Medieval World at GV 
I think that it is important to recognize that after his return to China he educated the people on Buddhism. He also did a lot of work translating manuscripts. He played a big role in the spread of Buddhism throughout China.
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I think that it is also fascinating how his journey became folklore, and elements of religion were added into the story, such as the master of the mountain who was a demon wouldn’t let him and his companions pass. This demon was likely one of the many people and settlements that urged him not to go on.
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Another interesting thing to consider is the importance of inter-regional trade routes in the diffusion of religious and cultural ideas. You point to this fact when you discuss how Xuanzang’s travels took him along the routes that were collectively known as the Silk Roads.
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It must be depressing to have invested three years to travel to a different country, live there for sixteen years, travel back, and be considered a fugitive when you had no ill intentions. His role in the development of Buddhism in China was crucial, and it shows an example of the Silk Road spreading religion. I can’t imagine making a trip by walking in modern times because it would be a very big hassle. It is very impressive that he was able to commit that long to something.
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This post was interesting and it caught my attention. I liked how you mentioned that his life as a kid was just like any other kids life. I think another important key factor that stood out would be the trade route that was established between the traders.
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