A Record Of The Buddhist Religion As Practised In India And The Malay Archipelago(A. D. 671-695)

After the introduction of Buddhism into China A.D. 671, FaHien was first to make a pilgrimage in India, the holy land of Buddhist. His journey was lasted almost 16 years. This present and rare work is a survey of the modes and methods of this religion as practised in India and the Malay Archipelago, made during a journey of the Chinese monk ITsing from AD 671 and 695. He visited in India, among other venerated sites, Gaya, Patna, Nalanda, Varanasi, and Kusinagar. It has a lengthy, but essential introduction wherein is given a preliminary note on the Mulasarvastivada school, a biographical sketch of the author, and a note on geographical names in the main body of the work. There are forty short chapters of various temporal and spiritual practices of the monks. Among the chapters the reader will find notices on behaviour; cleansing; food and clothing; bathing; chanting; rules regarding hair; use of common property; rules for ordination; ministering of medicine, etc. There is a map at the end of the book that shows the route of his entire journey. The subject matter of the book is very interesting. There is no statement in the book to which exception may justly be taken. Though the book is a rare one, it may be recognized even by those who dissent from the author?s views.