Tang monk who travelled to India from 629 to 645 and spent the rest of his life translating the Buddhist texts he brought back. His journey inspired 西游记, where he is the monk 唐僧.
Xuanzang studied for many years at Nalanda Monastery in India.
Tips
history
He dictated his record of the journey, 《大唐西域记》, to his disciple 辩机; it is still a key source on the history of ancient India. He had set out in 629 without the travel pass the Tang court never granted him.
