The contribution of Xuanzang's great tang records on the western regions to the research of religious culture

摘要

This essay utilizes historical records from the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, in conjunction with historical archives and analyses performed by academic scholars, to investigate Xuanzang's trip to Central Asia and India, which produced detailed records such as number of monasteries, monastics, discussion and debate methods as well as observations of the evolvement of both Buddhism and Hinduism. These observations allow scholars to understand the religious environment of Central Asia during the early Tang dynasty. It also provides details of various cultural backgrounds and evolution of the different religions around India during the same period.