Which University did Xuang Zang and I Quing visit in India?
Xuang Zang and I Quing's Visit to Nalanda University in India
Xuang Zang (also known as Xuanzang) and I Quing (also known as Yijing) were two renowned Chinese Buddhist monks who travelled to India during the Tang Dynasty. Their journeys were significant for obtaining Buddhist scriptures and studying Buddhism at its source. During their time in India, they visited several important sites, but one university stands out as a primary centre of learning they both attended.
The University They Visited
Both Xuang Zang and I Quing spent considerable time studying at the famous Nalanda University in ancient India. Nalanda was a celebrated Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery which also served as a prominent university.
- Xuang Zang's Visit: Xuang Zang visited India in the 7th century CE, spending many years travelling and studying. He spent a significant period at Nalanda, where he studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Yoga School of Buddhism under various esteemed teachers, including Shilabhadra. His accounts provide valuable details about Nalanda's functioning and the intellectual environment of the time.
- I Quing's Visit: I Quing also travelled to India later in the 7th century CE, reaching Nalanda in 673 CE. He stayed there for several years, studying and collecting Buddhist texts. His writings offer further insights into the daily life, rules, and curriculum of Nalanda University.
Their visits highlight Nalanda's international reputation as a major centre for Buddhist studies and other disciplines during that period.
Statement Analysis
Let's examine the options provided in the question:
- Nalanda University: Historical records from both Xuang Zang and I Quing confirm their extensive stays and studies at Nalanda University.
- Takshashila University: Takshashila was another ancient centre of learning, but it flourished earlier than the time of Xuang Zang and I Quing's visits (primarily between 5th century BCE and 5th century CE). While important, it was not the university they are known for visiting and studying at during the 7th century CE.
- Banaras Hindu University: Banaras Hindu University is a modern university founded in 1916. It did not exist during the time of Xuang Zang and I Quing.
- Vikramshila University: Vikramshila was another important Buddhist university, founded by King Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th century CE. This is after the time of Xuang Zang's visit (mid-7th century) and overlaps only with the later part of I Quing's stay in India (I Quing left India around 695 CE, while Vikramshila was likely established slightly later). Nalanda was their primary and common study destination.
Based on historical evidence from their own travelogues and other historical records, Nalanda University was the key institution visited by both Xuang Zang and I Quing for studying Buddhism and collecting scriptures.
Conclusion
The university that both Xuang Zang and I Quing visited in India was Nalanda University.
Revision Table: Ancient Indian Universities
| University | Period of Prominence | Key Visitors Mentioned | Location (Modern) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nalanda University | 5th century CE to 12th century CE | Xuang Zang, I Quing | Bihar, India |
| Takshashila University | 5th century BCE to 5th century CE | Chanakya, Panini (students/teachers) | Punjab, Pakistan (modern) |
| Vikramshila University | Late 8th century CE to 12th century CE | Atisha Dipankara (later scholar) | Bihar, India |
Additional Information: Contributions of Xuang Zang and I Quing
The travels of Xuang Zang and I Quing were crucial for the development of Buddhism in China and for historical understanding of ancient India. Their contributions include:
- Translation of Scriptures: They brought back a vast number of Buddhist texts from India and dedicated years to translating them into Chinese, significantly expanding the Buddhist canon available in China.
- Detailed Travelogues: Xuang Zang's "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions" and I Quing's "A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea" provide invaluable historical, geographical, and cultural information about India and other regions of Asia during their time.
- Spread of Buddhist Knowledge: Their efforts helped clarify and propagate various schools of Buddhist thought in China, contributing to the vibrant intellectual exchange between India and China.
Their visits to Nalanda University were central to their mission of acquiring knowledge and texts directly from the most authoritative source in India.
Important Questions from Ancient Educational Institutions
In which era given below, higher education in India got a setback?
In which year the Modern Indian University got established?
Given below are two statements
Statement I: In ancient India, indigenous education was imparted at home, in temples, and in gurukuls.
Statement II: In ancient India, students went to viharas for higher knowledge.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below
Which of the following statements are true regarding Takshashila?
(A) Indian Grammarian Panini had studied there.
(B) Renowned Physician of ancient India, Jivaka studied there.
(C) Xuan Zang studied Yogashastra at Takshashila.
(D) Chinese scholar I-Qing visited Takshashila in 7th Century CE.
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The medical treatises of Charaka and Sushruta were included among ancient sources of education in India.
Statement II: Among ancient sources of education no distinction was drawn between shastras (Learned disciplines) and Kavyas (imaginative and creative literature)
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
