No.1260 (Minh Chau dich)

Chinese monks trace historical route to Nalanda by foot

By Indo Asian News Service

Patna, Nov 27 (IANS) Two Chinese Buddhist monks arrived in Bihar's historical city of Nalanda after a four-month long journey by foot from China's Shaanxi province, tracing the route undertaken by Chinese scholar Xuanzang, over 1,300 years back.

The monks, Mingxian and Huikuan, arrived Sunday in Nalanda, an ancient Buddhist learning centre.

'They were upbeat about having successfully completed the journey, following Xuanzang's exact route, which he undertook more than 1,300 years ago,' said Ravindra Panth, director of the Nav Nalanda Mahavihara, a centre of higher studies in Pali and Buddhism.

The monks' journey is said to have carried the message of peace and harmony and marks 2006 as India-China friendship year.

Xuanzang travelled from the city of Chang'an (now called Xi'an) in Shaanxi province to Nalanda to obtain and study Buddhist scriptures. He returned to China 17 years later. His remarkable adventures inspired the Chinese classic 'A Journey to the West'.

The two monks, who were received at the Xuanzang Memorial Hall, offered prayers at a statue of Xuanzang and visited the ancient Nalanda University.

'They spent a few hours in Nalanda and left for Bodh Gaya,' Panth said.

He added that the monks wished a long-lasting friendship between India and China.

They were given a statue of Xuanzang and a silk scroll. In return, the two gifted a travel account written by Xuanzang on a bamboo scroll to the Mahavihara. They also gave a travel account written in blood by a 100-year-old Chinese monk.

The two monks, set off from Xi'an July 19. They were supported by the China Buddhism association, the Chinese people's association for friendship with foreign countries and the China Xuanzang research centre.

They travelled through Pakistan and Nepal before reaching Nalanda.