Description: "Xuanzang was the 7th century monk who left China in search of Buddhist texts from the motherland f India. He returned - 16 years later - laden with an immense amount of texts and a written record of Buddhism in India which still provides the clearest picture of how Buddhism was practiced in that time and place. His journey took him through western Chine, Kyrgistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and all over India. Much of what we know about Buddhism in India comes from his record of his journey for which there are a couple translations. A new one, heavily annotated in 12 volumes should be coming out in the next few years as well"--
Review Quotes: "Intrepid traveler, chronicler of Indian Buddhism, consummate scholar, translator extraordinaire, and inspiration for Journey to the West, Xuanzang may be the most famous figure in the history of Buddhism after the Buddha himself. If you don't believe it, read this book, where Benjamin Brose recounts Xuanzang's extraordinary life and offers finely crafted translations from his inspiring works and from works inspired by him."--Donald S. Lopez Jr., author of Gendun Chopel: Tibet's Modern Visionary
"[An] excellent addition to the Lives of the Masters Series . . . Brose's smart volume is a compact yet comprehensive introduction to Xuanzang."--Publishers Weekly "Brose's book joins a distinguished lineage of studies about China's most famous pilgrim-monk. However, its nuance and depth of thought give it a strong edge over many introductory books to Xuanzang. This is the strength of the 'Lives of the Masters' series: it re-introduces familiar names in an updated light, allowing us to revisit these great women and men, while being able to enjoy a different conversation with them."--Buddhistdoor Global "Brose paints a vivid portrait of Xuanzang."--Buddhadharma "An objective and comprehensive picture of Xuanzang's life. . . . This book is a gem."--Reading Religion "This book is well-structured and meticulously presented and provides a wide range of documentary sources, especially new English translations published in recent years, which will greatly help English-speaking readers."--Religious Studies Review