Faxian/Giles: Record of the Buddhistic Kingdoms

Fa-hsien [Faxian]/Herbert Allen Giles: Record of the Buddhistic kingdoms (London: Trübner & Co./Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh 1877)

• Digitized:
  > Internet Archive (book contributor: Cornell University Library, digitizing sponsor: MSN)
  > University of Macau Library [direct link to pdf]
• Bibliographical reference: BS 2652
• Entry in Wiener China-Bibliographie

Between 399 and 414 CE, the Chinese monk Faxian 法顯 (337 – ca. 422) traveled to Nepal, India and Ceylon  to find better copies of Buddhist books than available in China at that time.  The Foguoji 佛國記 provides valuable information on the conditions of travel, on Buddhist sites, and Buddhist practices at the turn of the fifth century.

Other 19th century translations are by James Legge and Samuel Beal.

Last updated July 11, 2015.