Explainer | From Ayurveda to Buddhism, what Journey to the West says about early China-India exchanges

Journey to the West is not only a seminal work in Chinese literature but a prime example of early intellectual, cultural and diplomatic exchange between China and India. The novel, written by Wu Cheng’en during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), recounts in 100 chapters the fantastical adventures of Tang Sanzang, a Chinese monk tasked with by the Buddha with retrieving sacred scriptures from India. He is joined on his journey by three disciples, each with supernatural abilities and a troubled past: Sun Wukong, the mischievous and powerful Monkey King; Zhu Bajie, a gluttonous pig demon; and Sha Wujing, a repentant river demon. In an allegory of spiritual enlightenment, the group face numerous trials battling demons, evil spirits and natural obstacles. While Wu is credited as the author of Journey to the West, it is widely accepted to be based on folk tales and oral accounts of a 16-year trip to India undertaken by Xuanzang (602-664), a Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar, during the Tang dynasty. Xuanzang was dissatisfied with inconsistencies in the Buddhist texts available in China at the time, and, defying a travel ban, embarked on his journey to India in AD629. There he studied scriptures to deepen his understanding of Buddhism. He travelled along the Silk Road, crossing deserts, mountains and hostile territory and often facing extreme hardship and danger. In India, Xuanzang studied at Nalanda, a monastery and centre of Buddhist learning in present-day Bihar state, and mastered Sanskrit and Buddhist philosophy. He collected hundreds of sacred texts and relics, which he brought back to China in 645. Xuanzang spent the rest of his life translating more than 1,300 Sanskrit texts into Chinese, preserving important Buddhist works and significantly enriching Chinese Buddhism. His travels and writings, particularly his Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, provided invaluable insights into the geography, culture and religions of Central Asia and India. Xuanzang’s dedication to scholarship and his contributions to Buddhist thought cemented his legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of Chinese Buddhism. A lesser known fact about Xuanzang’s travels is that they led to the introduction of Ayurvedic medicine to China, according to a blog post by Nitin Pai, a columnist for Indian newspaper Business Standard, which goes into the history of India-China relations dating back to 648. While in India, Xuanzang formed a strong friendship with Emperor Harsha, who ruled the ancient Kannauj kingdom in what is today northern India. Upon returning to China, Xuanzang also gained favour with Emperor Taizong, the second emperor of the Tang dynasty, who reigned from 626 to 649. Taizong supported Xuanzang’s translation efforts. These relationships facilitated diplomatic exchanges, with Harsha sending a mission to the Tang court in 641, which was later reciprocated by Taizong. During this period, India sent Buddhist scriptures and sugar-processing technology to China, strengthening their relationship. Pai points out that Taizong, who learned about Ayurveda from Xuanzang, sought a practitioner to help with his declining health. He sent envoy Wang Xuance to India to procure an Ayurvedic practitioner. However, Wang’s mission faced challenges amid instability in the region following Harsha’s death. Wang’s party was attacked by Arunasva, a warlord from northern India, and only Wang and his deputy escaped. Seeking retribution, Wang secured 1,200 Tibetan mercenaries and 700 Nepalese cavalrymen and led a successful assault on Arunasva in 648. The warlord was captured. Wang returned to China with an Ayurvedic doctor, Narayanaswamy, who claimed to be 200 years old. Despite his efforts, Taizong’s health did not improve and he died in 650. Narayanaswamy faced political discredit but was spared harm to avoid any diplomatic falling out. He was issued a deportation order, but died before he could be sent away. It is thought that his visit to Tang dynasty China led to Ayurvedic medicine influencing the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Explainer | From Ayurveda to Buddhism, what Journey to the West says about early China-India exchanges

16th century novel tells the tale of Xuanzang, a monk who contributed to Chinese religion and medicine after his travels to Buddhist India