Faxian (337 CE – c. 422 CE), also known as Fa-Hien, Fa-hsien, and Sehi, was a Chinese Buddhist monk and translator who travelled from China to India on foot to acquire Buddhist texts. He began his arduous journey around the age of 60, visiting sacred Buddhist sites in Central, South, and Southeast Asia between 399 and 412 CE, with ten years spent in India.

In his travelogue, “A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms”, he described his journey. His memoirs are an important independent record of early Buddhist practise in India. He brought with him a large number of Sanskrit texts, the translations of which influenced East Asian Buddhism and serve as a preamble to many historical names, events, texts, and ideas. This article seeks to provide candidates studying for the IAS Exam with information on Fa Hien's life.

Fa-Hien (AD 337 – AD 422)

• Fa Hien, commonly known as Faxian, was born in Pingyang Wuyang, current Linfen City, Shanxi, China in AD 337.
• He spent most of his adult life in Buddhist monasteries after being orphaned at a young age.
• At the age of 62, he departed Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an) to go on an adventure across Central Asia to India, and eventually Sri Lanka.
• He was taken aback by the ripped and worn state of the Books of Discipline (Vinaya Pitakas), which contain the monastic discipline for Buddhist monks and nuns, during a visit to Chang'an.
• In 399 CE, Fa-Hien set off on a trip with four others to visit the Buddha's homeland and look for Buddhist literature.
• When he arrived in Purushapura (Peshawar), he remembered how Buddha had foretold the advent of a monarch named 'Kanishka,' who would construct a magnificent stupa here.
• Fa-Hien travelled to Northern India and observed vegetation that was considerably different from that of his homeland of Han (China).
  • Bamboo, pomegranate, and sugarcane were the only plants he recognized.
• He came to India in the early fifth century, under the reign of Chandragupta II, and arrived at Pataliputra from the northwest.
• He discovered a copy of the Vinaya Pitaka, which included the Mahasanghika regulations written in Sanskrit, in a Mahayana monastery.
  • As a result, he spent nearly three years at Patliputra, learning Sanskrit and writing down the Vinaya precepts.
• He visited numerous cities related to the Buddha's life, including Sravasti, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Rajgir, and Taxila, Pataliputra, Mathura, and Kannauj in Central India, and wrote about them.
• Mathura was a significant city that Fa-Hien visited.
  • He described the city as rich and pleasant, with the majority of residents being teetotalers and vegetarians.
• Fa-Hien is well-known for his visit to Lumbini, where Gautama Buddha was born.
• He followed the Ganga eastwards, passing through Champa and finally Tamralipti (an ancient city in West Bengal).
• Faxian spent two years in Sri Lanka before returning to China on a perilous maritime voyage.
  • He believed that demons and dragons were the original occupants of Ceylon
  • Fa-Hien is commemorated now by a cave in Sri Lanka's Kalutara area. He is thought to have lived there.
• He translated the Buddhist Sutra as well as the Indian Sramana Buddha-Bhadra and wrote a travelogue rich with vital details of what life was like, the locations he saw, and the essence of Buddhism around the start of the fifth century when he came home at the age of 77.
• In a travelogue titled Fo-Kwo-Ki (A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms; also known as Faxian's Account), he recounted his impressions.
• Faxian died at the age of eighty-eight in Jingzhou, China.

Recordings of Fa-Hien

Political and Administrative Conditions

• Fa-Hien did not record anything particular concerning India's political situation.
• He did not even mention Chandragupta II's reign when he visited the nation.
• He just extrapolated that the Guptas' rule was liberal, that the people enjoyed economic success, and that the tax load on them was not excessive.
• The majority of the time, fines were imposed on the perpetrators, corporal punishment was avoided, and the death sentence was almost certainly not used.
• Area revenue was the state's principal source of money at the time, and individuals were free to transfer from one land to another.
• Monasteries, Sanghas, temples, and their property, as well as other religious endowments, were tax-exempt.
• Travelers were supplied with every amenity by the monarchs and wealthy individuals who erected rest-houses.
• Hospitals were also created with the intention of providing free medications to the impoverished.
• According to Fa-Hien's narrative, the Guptas' government was compassionate and prosperous, with peace and security across the empire.

The Religious Conditions

• People showed tolerance in religious affairs, according to Fa-Hien’s records, because Buddhism and Hinduism coexisted during the period.
• In Punjab, Bengal, and the Mathura region, Buddhism was increasingly prevalent.
• The Hindu faith was more prevalent in the ‘middle kingdom' of Chandra Gupta II's dominions (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and a portion of Bengal).

The Conditions of Society

• During Fa-Hiens' voyage to India in the 5th century, people were rich, joyful, liberal, and morally simple.
• They were mostly vegetarians, avoiding meat and onions, as well as alcohol and other intoxicants.
• There were homes established to provide charity and medicine, and enormous gifts were made to temples, monasteries, and Sanghas, among other things.
• The wealthy competed with one another in generosity and virtue.
• People were happy with their lives and public morals were high.

Fa-Hien's Other Notable Records Regarding India

• Fa-Hien deduced from his journey to Patliputra that there were distinct Sanghas of both the Hinayana and Mahayana sects that gave education to students from all across India.
• He was awestruck by the chariot processions that took place on the eighth day of the second month of each year.
• Images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas were carried in the procession.
• Emperor Ashoka's Palace also existed during the period, and Fa-Hien speculated that "it could have been created not by mortals but by gods." Ashoka's Inscriptions Emperor Ashoka's Inscriptions, the Lion Capital and the Sanchi Stupa were other things noted by him.
• Fa-Hien also paid a visit to Malwa, where he appreciated the climate.
• He stated that India's internal and external trade was progressing and that Indians were also engaged in sea voyages.
• India possessed ports including Cambay, Sopara, and Baroach on the western seacoast, according to Fa-Hien, while Tamralipti was a well-known port on the eastern seacoast.
• It was from this harbor that Fa-Hien boarded an Indian ship bound for Sri Lanka.

Conclusion

Faxian's memoirs provide a stand-alone account of the society and culture of the locations he visited, notably ancient India around the year 400 CE. His translations of Sanskrit writings, which he brought to China, are useful for determining the dates of works, personalities, and Buddhist traditions. Many historical names, documents, events, and concepts within have a terminus ante quem.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following services is primarily associated with the Quaternary Sector?

A) Manufacturing of goods
B) Education and research
C) Retail and hospitality
D) Construction

2. What is a key feature of the Quaternary Sector?

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B) Production of raw materials
C) Transportation and logistics
D) Agricultural services

3. Which of the following sectors does NOT fall under the Quaternary Sector?

A) Biotechnology
B) IT Services
C) Manufacturing
D) Media

4. What challenge does the Quaternary Sector in India face?

A) Lack of demand for intellectual services
B) Inadequate infrastructure
C) Overproduction of goods
D) Low-skilled workforce

5. Which of the following industries is most critical to the Quaternary Sector's growth in India?

A) Textile manufacturing
B) Information technology
C) Agriculture
D) Heavy machinery

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Evaluate the importance of the Quaternary Sector in India's economic growth. What role does it play in the diversification of India's economy?

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Previous Year Questions on the Quaternary Sector

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020:

Question: The Quaternary Sector in India is primarily associated with which of the following industries?

A) Manufacturing
B) Information Technology
C) Heavy Industry
D) Agriculture

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The Quaternary Sector in India is primarily driven by industries such as Information Technology (IT), education, research, and financial services.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2018 (GS Paper 3):

Question: Discuss the role of the Quaternary Sector in modernizing India's economy. How does it complement other sectors like agriculture and manufacturing?

Answer: The Quaternary Sector plays a key role in modernizing India's economy by fostering technological innovation and creating high-value services. It complements the agricultural and manufacturing sectors by improving efficiency, enhancing productivity, and developing the skills needed for advanced production processes. The growth of IT and educational services also supports the manufacturing sector by offering specialized training and digital tools for industry growth.