Around 660 AD, during the reign of Tang Gaozong, the legendary Wang Xuance visited India again.

This is not his first visit to India. As early as the twenty-second year of Zhenguan, Wang Xuance took Chiang as an envoy to India. On the occasion of the death of Rixin King, there was chaos in India, and Arona, the powerful minister, decided to be king himself and sent troops to rob the Tang Dynasty.

Wang Xuance and his party were outnumbered. All 30 cavalry accompanying him were killed, and Wang Xuance was captured. Later, Wang Xuance and Jiang escaped, spreading the news that countries borrowed soldiers. Tubo sent 1200 people, and Nirvana (that is, Nepal) sent 7000 people. Wang and Jiang, with these 8,000 men, defeated Arona Shun in the Battle of Chadan and Luocheng, and tens of thousands of Indian troops died. Arona Shun was captured and sent to Chang 'an to offer prisoners.

During the Qing Dynasty, Wang Xuance came to India again. At the Believers Temple in central India, Wang Xuance met a monk studying abroad in the Tang Dynasty. His dharma name was Zhao Xuan. Zhao Xuan has been in India for 14 or 15 years. Proficient in Buddhism, he was personally certified as a generation of eminent monks by Wang Xuance. After returning home, Wang Xuance immediately recommended Zhao Xuan in the above table. Tang Gaozong attached great importance to this, and soon issued a decree requiring Zhao Xuan to enter Beijing immediately.

Zhao Xuan, who is far away in the western paradise, will go home soon. Zhao Xuan took a path that Xuanzang had never taken. He went to Japan first. At this time, Nivaro also married Tubo, and Nivaro Bhrikuti Devi married Tubo Zanpazong Gambu. Nippula sent someone to escort Zhao Xuan across the Himalayas to Tubo to meet Princess Wencheng. Princess Wencheng showed great humility and sponsored Zhao Xuan to return to the Tang Dynasty. Zhao Xuanyuan left India in September, arrived in Los Angeles in the first month of the following year, and passed Wan Li in May, soon.

Why is Xuan Zhao so eager to return? This is the utilitarian heart at work. He probably thought that Tang Gaozong would appoint himself to preside over the translation of Buddhist scriptures, and the glorious moment he had been pursuing all his life was coming. What glory? Is to be the second Xuanzang.

In 645 AD, in the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang was decorated from India and made a sensation throughout the country. The Tang government gave a lot of manpower and material resources to support Xuanzang's translation of classics. From the 19th year of Zhenguan to the 3rd year of Longshuo (663), Xuanzang presided over the translation of 74 Buddhist scriptures, with a total volume of 1338. In recognition of Xuanzang, Emperor Taizong personally prefaced the Holy Religion, and Tang Gaozong personally wrote a record of the Holy Religion.

So brilliant, no one can match it through the ages. Later, Xuanzang's disciple Huairen combined the Preface to the Holy Religion, the Book of Narrating the Holy Scripture and the Heart Sutra translated by Xuanzang, and carved it into the Preface to the Monument to the Holy Religion. Huairen retrieved every word from Wang Xizhi's works handed down from generation to generation, and pieced it together into a complete inscription, which is called "Preface Monument to Gathering the King's Holy Religion". This monument cost tens of thousands of dollars and took 20 years to complete. It is also known as the Thousand Women Monument.

Seeing this glory, many monks followed suit and went to India. Among them, the first monk with a history to test was Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan was born into a noble family and became a monk at a young age. Probably in the last years of Zhenguan, Zhao Xuan embarked on the road to the west. At first, Zhao Xuan and Xuanzang took the same road, passing through the Sogdian and Tuholo areas in Central Asia, and then heading south. At this time, Tubo has expanded to Ladakh and other places in Central Asia. Therefore, after leaving Tuhuoluo, Zhao Xuan entered the sphere of influence of Tubo. In the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, she married Princess Wencheng, a Tibetan relative, and became a Buddhist. Knowing this, she sent someone to escort Zhao Xuan to India.

After coming to India, Zhao Xuan first went to Geelong Island, where he spent four years studying Confucian classics and Sanskrit, and was supported by the local king. Then he went south to Moho Bodhi, that is, the undergraduate department, and lived there for four years. While visiting the site of the Giant Buddha, he studied Buddhism and was proficient in Hinayana Buddhist theories such as "all homes".

Later, I went to Nalanduo Temple and lived there for another three years, learning Mahayana Buddhist theories such as yoga in 17 places. Later, he came to the country of Amoro and lived in the temple of believers. He was supported by the king for another three years. It was here that he came to Wang Xuance and embarked on a glorious road home.

Zhao Xuan has the longest wealth and the worst fate.

However, Zhao Xuanwan did not expect that Tang Gaozong had no intention of letting him preside over the translation of the scriptures, but ordered him to go to India again to meet with a Brahman named Lu Jiayiduo. Zhao Xuan didn't want to go, but Tang Gaozong ordered him to die.

Tang Gaozong wants to see Lu Jiayi, but he wants to live forever. After all, Wang Xuance is to blame for such a bad thing. That year, after Wang Xuance swept through India, he brought back a magic stick called Sleep of Rona's Wife. Emperor Taizong asked him to be an elixir of life. Although it was a waste of people and money, it was always a pillow. At this point, Tang Gaozong still holds the fluky psychology, dreaming of immortality.

As a last resort, Zhao Xuan went to India again However, due to the problems of Tuguhun and Western Turkistan, the relationship between Tang Dynasty and Tubo almost broke down. He was attacked by Tubo, but he survived, waded through mountains, climbed plank roads and took cable bridges, and finally met Lugayido in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Lu Jia Yiduo had ulterior motives and sent Zhao Xuan to Luocha Township in West India to look for the elixir of life.

Therefore, Zhao Xuan came to Rhoda through the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. He stayed here for four years, collected all kinds of medicines, then came to Nalanduo Temple, and then planned to return to China through Nirvana.

Map of Pakistan, for reference, showing the second westward journey.

However, not long ago, the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo took a turn for the worse, and finally the soldiers met each other. The Tang Dynasty was defeated in the Great Africa-Sichuan War in Qinghai. As a vassal state of Tubo, Nipolo refused to let the Tang people cross the border. Zhao Xuan also intends to return to China via Gabon and Central Asia. However, the Arab Empire has annexed Persia and marched into Afghanistan to surround Persian survivors. At this time, it is playing in the dark and the road is impassable.

Nature plays tricks on people, and Xuan Zhao finally sees through the world of mortals. So? Shen Qing Bamboo Garden, Qizhi Jiufeng? , and finally died in India. And Lu Jiayi made it to China, but finally got mixed up? General Huaihua? A glorious title.

Perhaps it is because Zhao Xuan returned to China at an unfortunate time. During the Linde period in Tang Gaozong, that is, from 664 to 665, Xuanzang just died, and the large-scale, costly and useless translation project he presided over finally ended. How can Tang Gaozong immediately start a new round of translation?

Learn from the west after losing your heart.

In Nalanduo Temple, an elderly Zhao Xuan met a young monk by chance. He is the Book of Changes.

In the second year of Tang Gaozong Xianheng, 67 1 year, Yijing went to sea from Guangzhou, arrived in India in 673, and lived in Nalanduo Temple for ten years. In 685, Tang Ruizong bowed for two years, and I Ching returned to China by sea. Among them, he stayed in Sri Lanka on Sumatra Island for six years, leaving two books: Biography of the Western Regions of Datang and Biography of the Return of the South China Sea.

After two years of longevity, I Ching returned to Luoyang in 695 and was received and appreciated by Wu Zetian. From then on, I Ching began to translate Buddhist scriptures and teach Buddhism in Luoyang and Chang 'an. Tang Zhongzong has set up a Buddhist scripture-turning institute under the Little Wild Goose Pagoda, which is led by the Yijing organization, and has translated 56 Buddhist scriptures with 230 volumes. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was born two years ago, 7 13, and I Ching died at the age of 79. I ching is much luckier than Zhao Xuan. He returned to China 30 years late, and the ruling Wu Zetian was superstitious about Buddhism, so the Book of Changes finally got ahead.

The Pilu Jinna Buddha statue in Longmen Grottoes is said to be modeled after Wu Zetian.

It is precisely because of the good combination of justice and purity that the life of Zhao Xuan and other monks who stayed in India is known to future generations, not forgotten. In the book Biography of Monks Seeking Dharma in the Western Regions of Datang, The Book of Changes records the endless life of Zhao Xuan and 55 other monks.

According to the Book of Changes, many monks longed for Xuanzang and went to the west to learn from it. Or is the west purple and lonely, or is Nandu gone? . In other words, some people go to India through the Silk Road Economic Belt and Central Asia, while others go to India through the 7th Century Maritime Silk Road, bypassing the South China Sea. At that time, countless monks poured in, and the university park where Sakyamuni became a Buddha and Nalanduo Temple where Xuanzang studied abroad were furious.

Bodhgaya's King Kong Throne Tower

However, what awaits them is not the glory falling from the sky, but the eighty-one difficulty. Even if they arrive in India, there will be endless pain. I ching called this behavior? Suicide and favoritism? , he described those hardships like this:

Vast elephant moraine, morning light in Changchuan, huge whale waves and huge waves. Outside the iron gate, all the way to join, floating alone in front of the copper column, died across thousands of rivers. Or die for a few days and give up drinking for a few hours, which can be described as thinking about selling spirits and worrying about work. I was ordered to go to the western country, and there was no temple in Datang. I stayed in it with a gourd ladle, and I was a guest. I had nowhere to stop, so I was stuck in one place. If you are uneasy, how can you be peaceful and prosperous? Ouch. ?

Monks came to India after a narrow escape, usually without a stable residence. The Book of Changes envies other countries for building temples in India specifically for their monks studying abroad, such as Tuholo Temple, gabriela Temple and gabriela Temple, all of which are extremely rich. Monks studying abroad do not have to worry about food and clothing when they come here.

However, there is no Datang Temple in India, so monks in China have no fixed place to live, and they have neither enough to eat nor enough to wear. In this case, there is nothing to talk about Buddhism. So the result is often poverty and illness, and guests die in other places. These monks recorded in the Book of Changes are not without news. They died 1 1 person in India, and 9 people died on their way home.

This ending confuses many people. One of the most representative is the Mahayana lantern Zen master. He is from Aizhou, located in present-day Vietnam. Unlike the Monkey King, Pig Bajie and Friar Sand, Mahayana Lamp was really Xuanzang's apprentice, and his feet were bound under Xuanzang's door. Later, he went to India by boat and stayed in East India for 12 years, and experienced various hardships.

Later, he went to Nalanduo Temple with Yijing. Mahayana lamp experienced joys and sorrows, saw through the world of mortals, and said sadly: The original intention is to preach the Dharma, and the emphasis is on Eastern Xia. I would rather not pursue my ambition, I will decline next year. Although I don't care today, I want to bless Bish in my next life. ? It can be seen that even Xuanzang's disciples are helpless for such an outcome, and their ambitions will eventually become the bubble of dreams. Mahayana lamp died in India at the age of 60.

Even the later successful Yijing survived in India and had good luck. At that time, on the way to Xueyuan Temple, I was seriously ill and exhausted. He landed on a hillside, was robbed by bandits and even stripped naked.

After the bandits left, he thought that the local natives would kill people with white skin to sacrifice to heaven. In fear, just in case, he jumped into the mud pit, covered himself with black mud, covered himself with leaves, dragged his sick body, limped forward with crutches, and finally caught up with his companions in the middle of the night, only to survive. Later, when he left Nalanduo Temple for home, he was caught by a mountain thief and went through all kinds of hardships. Only by cutting off the blade did he save his life.

In India and China, only one spiritual monk can return to his roots and live happily.

The spiritual master is also from Xiangyang, and Brahma's name is Prajna. Cherish Geng Jie, cherish the customs here. Pursuing the holy land, traveling with monks and philosophers, Vietnam, Darcy country. Extremely idle Sanskrit, benefit in your arms, where you are, your honour. So he painted the true face of cishi and the bodhi tree in Nalanduo, measured them together, and made the workers simple so as to return home. It can really promote Buddhism and translate the holy religion. ?

It can be seen that Lingyun is a clever man, who can speak fluent Sanskrit and draw pictures. The key is to have money, get along well in India, and be able to spread the law after returning home, which is worthy of his initial heart. I also envy Clever for being so capable. However, this is the only one, there is no semicolon. More monks in India are down and out, and the worst is monks who have no lines and simply beg for a living.

In fact, although the fate of these monks is worthy of emotion, it is not worthy of sympathy. Unlike Xuanzang, their purpose is not simple. When Xuanzang was on fire, later monks all wanted to learn Buddhism and spread it, but it was their real intention to be famous all over the world like Xuanzang. Although he is a monk, he is very utilitarian.

One of them, a monk from Mingyuan, was insane and tried to steal Sri Lanka's national treasure, Buddha's tooth. It was a shame that someone caught me by mistake. Most monks are poor and ill, and Zhao Xuan, the oldest, longest-lived and worst-fated monk in this group, is the only one who has ever approached the glory enjoyed by Xuanzang. It can be seen that it is easy to see Xuanzang's back. Mencius said:? This is called losing your heart. ?

The general trend of the world, those who follow it will fail.

Xuanzang succeeded before and after his death and won a reputation. Not only was he given a monument, but he was also chosen as the protagonist of the four classical novels hundreds of years later and was named the Buddha of merit. And those monks who follow Xuanzang's example usually end in tragedy and become a joke of learning to walk in Handan. The lessons behind it are profound.

Xuanzang's westbound map

Xuanzang's success was accidental. Although Emperor Taizong and Tang Gaozong supported Xuanzang on the surface, they were actually very unfriendly to Buddhism and attacked it. During this period, the control of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty was second only to that in the Tang Wuzong period. Although Xuanzang is famous all over the world, the government does not support him to preach Buddhism. Translating classics behind closed doors is actually the result of Xuanzang's requirement to preach Buddhism and the compromise of the Tang government's will.

The reason why the Tang government was willing to accept compromise was mainly because Xuanzang was so talented. As far as personal feelings are concerned, both Emperor Taizong and Tang Gaozong respect him very much. But other monks are not so lucky.

Li Zhi, Gao Zong, Great Sage, Great Filial Piety.

Besides, what are the underlying reasons?

Xuanzang went to India in the early years of Zhenguan. At that time, he had just passed the war at the end of Sui Dynasty, and his household registration was too exhausted. The political situation is primitive, floods and droughts are devastating, and people's livelihood is bleak. At this time, it is not unforgivable to think that the Buddhist culture in China is inferior to that in India.

However, when Xuanzang came back, the rule of Zhenguan had entered nineteen years. According to the records of Zhenguan dignitaries,

Those who abhor corrupt officials and those who pervert the law to get money will not be pardoned. Those who commit stolen goods outside Beijing will be sent to play and punished according to their crimes. So many officials are conscious. The most common name of the princess's house is Hao Shuwu, who is afraid of prestige and dare not invade others. When traveling in the wild, there are no thieves, the prison is often empty, there are no cattle and horses, and the family outside is not closed.

Also frequently cited rice harvest, for three or four dollars, from Beijing to Lingbiao, from Shandong to the seaside, are not paying, giving way. When entering a village in Shandong, passing passengers will be treated kindly, or they will get a gift when they send it. This has never happened before. ?

It can be seen that at this time, the country is prosperous, the government is harmonious, the economy is prosperous, the culture is prosperous, and everything is moving forward. At this time, it is necessary to go abroad for gold plating, and then go back to China to pretend to be tall and defraud the honor. This was not established from the beginning.

The political order in India has also undergone profound changes. When Xuanzang went, it was the period of the Japanese king. The king of Japan has six Vientiane armies and 100,000 horsemen, which are unstoppable, and all the princes bow to their knees. Most parts of India were formally unified under the king of Japan, so they could not afford to fight, and politics and religion were integrated. On this basis, India's religious life is also very active, and the Japanese king holds an uncovered meeting every five years, exhausting treasures to entertain monks.

Usually, there are charitable organizations giving alms, so Xuanzang will naturally not be frozen. By the time Mahayana, Yijing and other monks came, the king of the Anti-Japanese War was dead, and India was torn apart, especially when Wang Xuance attacked Arona Shun, which led to the complete decline of India, the situation of India as a whole was broken, the country would die, the economy would decline, people's livelihood would be at stake, and public security would deteriorate. Going to India at this time is asking for trouble.

King Huan Ri only unified parts of India in form.

In fact, after Xuanzang came back, he fully showed the world China's great superiority over Indian. The Joy of King Qin's Breaking the Array is widely spread in India, and the great image of Emperor Taizong is very glorious in India. The king of Japan said: I will face it from the east. ? King Moro of East Indian carmelo also said: I have always longed for weathering and looked east for a long time. ? However, India under the Japanese king was not stable.

At the secret meeting of Xuanzang Megatron in India, more than 500 Hindu extremists planned to assassinate the Japanese king, fired rockets at the conference platform and burned it. Later, they sent assassins to assassinate the Japanese king with knives. All this shows that the Japanese king's regime and the Buddhism it supports are facing great challenges from Hinduism, and India is very unsafe.

During the Zhenguan period, King Jerzy sent envoys twice to pay tribute, and the Tang Dynasty also sent envoys to India three times, and the third time was when Wang Xuance swept India. Arona Shun was tied up in Chang 'an as a prisoner, which shows that India does not represent the development requirements of advanced productive forces at all, and it also shows that the security situation in India has deteriorated sharply. Those monks, ignorant of the current situation, ventured to the west to gild the gold, hoping to return to China and enjoy the happiness, thinking that this was a shortcut to the south, but in fact, they were seeking fish from the wood.

The base of Arona Shun statue in the statue of the first fourteen countries in Taizong Zhaoling.

On the contrary, there are a few Indian monks who are much smarter, such as the Three Masters of Kaiyuan, Xubodhi, Vajrayana and Bukong. When they came to China Kaiyuan to preach, they became famous all over the world. Among them, Kumarajiva, Zhen Zhen and Xuanzang are one of the four great translators. What I want to talk about here is the Indian king Subhakara simha of Udo. When he was in power, the world was in chaos, resulting in ruins. 19 years old, finally he who sees through the world of mortals, fled into an empty net.

Subhakara simha has worked in Nalanduo Temple for a long time, and many monks such as Yijing should know Subhakara simha, who is about the same age as Yijing. At the beginning of the 8th century, Subhakara simha came to China to preach and translate scriptures at the age of 80, and was the founder of China Tantric School. He was treated by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and finally died in Luoyang. He lived a long life of 99 years and gave it to Hong Heqing. Look at the path chosen by Xu Bodhi, then look at Zhao Xuan and Mahayana, and judge each other.