Section C 01 Shi Faxian (Wuyang)

Driven by a desire to find authentic Vinaya (monastic rules) texts, the Chinese monk Faxian embarked on an epic fifteen-year journey to India and Sri Lanka. He survived treacherous deserts and mountain passes, becoming one of the first Chinese pilgrims to return successfully by sea. His translations of the Mahāsāṁghika-vinaya and his detailed travelogue, Record of Buddhist Kingdoms, provided Chinese Buddhists with essential disciplinary frameworks and a geographical understanding of the Buddhist world.