Hsuan Tsang's journey to the west contributed enormously to the cultural flow between East and West Asia. To reach his destination, the venerable monk had to walk or ride on horseback. He crossed vast deserts, scaled lofty mountains, traversed turbulent rivers, and passed through desolate lands with no trace of human habitation. It is hard to imagine the dangers and difficulties he had to conquer. His passage through so many kingdoms and states, each with its own customs, languages, and ethnic groups testifies to his outstanding talents and incomparable wisdom, otherwise how could he have stayed unruffled when threatened by such dangers and challenges?

More than 1,300 years have passed since Hsuan Tsang made his journey. Though numerous generations have risen and fallen, the intellectual treasure and cultural legacy bequeathed to us by Hsuan Tsang shines as brilliantly today as in times past. Using ¡§The Journey to the West in the Tang Dynasty¡¨ as a guide, Rhythms Magazine sent teams of reporters and photographers forth. They set out from Xi¡¦an, penetrated deep into the Gobi Desert, visited central Asia, witnessed the destruction site of the two giant Buddha statues in Bamiyan, and the rebirth of Afghanistan, found relics of the Buddha in war-torn Pakistan, visited the scenic but politically turbulent Kashmir, and finally arrived in India, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

The teams spent five years retracing Hsuan Tsang's steps, walking the roads he had taken, and observing the scenery he had once seen. This exhibition, which showcases the pictures the teams took during their explorations, is the fruitful result of the team members' combined efforts. < More... ... >

Reference

• Tzu Chi Quarter Magazine
• Hsuan Tsang's Route Map
• India Map