According to which Chinese traveller's account, the monastery at Nalanda was supported from the revenue of 100 villages?

The correct answer is - Huentsang

Key Points

• Huentsang
  • Huentsang, also known as Xuanzang, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler who visited India in the 7th century.
  • He documented his journey in the book "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions."
  • According to his accounts, the monastery at Nalanda was supported by the revenue from 100 villages granted by the king.
  • Huentsang’s detailed descriptions provide valuable insights into the educational and cultural practices of ancient Indian institutions, especially Nalanda University.

Additional Information

• I-tsing
  • I-tsing, another Chinese Buddhist monk, visited India in the 7th century after Huentsang.
  • He stayed at Nalanda for over 10 years and wrote about his experiences in "A Record of the Buddhist Religion as Practiced in India and the Malay Archipelago."
  • His accounts emphasize the rigorous academic and spiritual training at Nalanda.
• Fahien
  • Fahien was an earlier Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 5th century.
  • His journey is recorded in "A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms."
  • He visited various Buddhist sites but did not provide detailed accounts about the funding of Nalanda.
• Faxian
  • Faxian is another name for Fahien, indicating the same traveler and his contributions.
  • He is renowned for his pilgrimage to India to collect Buddhist texts.
  • His works were instrumental in introducing Indian Buddhism to China.