In 627, during the Tang Dynasty, the Dharma Master Hsuan Tsang started his westward journey by foot from Xian toward remote India to seek Buddhist scriptures. He crossed the Takla Makan Desert and climbed the Pamir Plateau that was covered with snow year round. Overcoming many natural dangers, he finally arrived in India. (At that time, the Indian territory included the area from what is present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir, down to the south of the Hindu Kush Mountains).

After 19 years, Hsuan-Tsang returned home with the sutras. His verbal accounts of the westward voyage were written down by his disciple Bien-Ji and compiled into a book called "Journey to the West In the Tang Dynasty". This monumental work was rich and vast in detail, and it was honored as, "a unique and unprecedented historical account". The contents elaborated on Hsuan-Tsang's personal experiences in one hundred and thirty-nine countries and tribes across present China, Central Asia, and India and gave accounts of history, geography, local culture, climate, and natural resources. It has since been recognized as a most complete and systematic account covering the widest area from the Middle Ages, as well as one of the most important contributions to historical and geographical research on this region.

After returning to his homeland, Hsuan-Tsang also created the Fa-Hsian branch of Buddhism. He translated as many as 75 volumes of Buddhist scriptures - one thousand thirty five chapters in total. He disseminated Indian astronomy, calendar systems, and arithmetic through China. He also brought Taoism's Lao-Tzu and the Dasheng qixin lun (¤j­¼°_«H½×), , which is lost now, to India. Because of Hsuan-Tsang's unusual accomplishments as well as his outstanding contributions to the spread of Buddhism, he was named "a top Chinese scholar " by the famous Chinese scholar Liang, Chi-Chao. Likewise, Hsuan-Tsang is honored in the West as "one of the greatest adventurers of mankind."

1300 years later, journalists from Rhythms Magazine, following the footsteps of Hsuan Tsang, set forth to make the same westward journey. We began in Xian and traveled deep into the Great Gobi Desert of Xingjiang. We visited Central Asia, saw the remains of the Bamiyan Buddha statues and the rebirth of Afghanistan, found remnants of the Buddha amidst the upheavals of Pakistan, and visited the scenic, but politically turbulent, Kashmir. Finally, we arrived in India.

In reference to the chronicles of The Journey to the West in the Tang Dynasty, the prayer of the Imam has replaced the chanting that echoed for a thousand of years in what is now Xinjiang. A Buddhist nation that once prospered has been reduced to the broken walls of an archeological artifact recording a point in the history of mankind. The old Silk Road still traverses the lands of unrest in Central Asia, but these places have not developed a new sense of identity. The weak structure of the countries leaves them still struggling on the edge of the world stage.

In Afghanistan, where the ravages of war have taken a great toll in recent years, statues of the Buddha that stood for more than 1500 years have now been reduced to empty caverns. This once prosperous region has sadly repeated over and over again a cycle of destruction and rebirth. Due to the religious rivalry and issues of national boundaries, both Pakistan and Kashmir, both also once Buddhist regions, still potentially harbor the sparks of war.

In India, Hsuan Tsang's destination and the birthplace of Buddhism, the days of Buddhist dominance have gone and most people are now either Hindu or Muslim. The relics of Buddhism are buried under gravel and weeds. The only things recorded in The Journey to the West in the Tang Dynasty that have withstood the test of time are food, clothing and daily customs.

We returned home covered with dust and fatigue. We put together over 10 reports, 2500 photos, and combined the writings from experts in both Buddhism and Hsuan Tsang studies to complete this book. Following the route of Hsuan Tsang - from China to Pakistan and from India back to China - we revisited the countries of the west. We witnessed the transformed civilizations, experienced the evolution of history and wish to leave this clear and colorful evidence of a great era to future generations.