itsing

itsing, also known as itsing or i-tsing, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler who lived from 635 to 713 CE. Born Zhang Wenming in Fangyang, Hebei province, he became a monk at a young age and developed a strong interest in Buddhism. Seeking to deepen his understanding, itsing embarked on a perilous journey to India, the birthplace of Buddhism, in 671 CE.

His travels spanned over two decades, during which he visited numerous Buddhist sites, studied with prominent monks, and collected a vast number of Sanskrit Buddhist texts. Itsing's meticulous observations and scholarly pursuits resulted in invaluable accounts of the religious, social, and political landscape of India and Southeast Asia during the Tang Dynasty. He documented various Buddhist schools, rituals, and monastic practices.

Upon his return to China in 695 CE, itsing dedicated the rest of his life to translating the scriptures he had brought back. His translations were instrumental in shaping the development of Buddhism in East Asia. His most famous works include the "Nanhai Jigui Neifa Zhuan" (A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea), which detailed his experiences and observations in India and Southeast Asia, and "Datang Xiyu Qiufa Gaoseng Zhuan" (A Record of Eminent Monks Who Went to the West in Search of the Law during the Great Tang Dynasty). These writings offer unique historical and cultural insights and remain important sources for scholars of Buddhism, history, and sinology.