Ten thousand miles without a cloud

It was the fantastical charm of The Legend of the Monkey King that first drew me in—whirling spells, mythical creatures, and tales of miracles captured my imagination. But as the story unfolded, I began to realize that beneath the playful magic lay a far deeper truth—one centered not on the Monkey King himself, but on the quiet, determined monk who journeyed alongside him.

Xuanzang—his name etched in both legend and history—was no ordinary pilgrim. Long before his tale was dramatized in folklore, he embarked on a formidable quest from China, across the shifting sands of Central Asia, and into the heart of India. His journey, spanning 18 long years, was not just a physical odyssey but a profound search for the purest essence of Buddhism. He walked through four vast landscapes—historical, cultural, spiritual, and deeply personal—documenting with piercing clarity the world as it existed between 602 and 664 AD. At Nalanda University, the intellectual epicenter of ancient Buddhism, Xuanzang studied deeply and emerged with a nuanced, enlightened understanding of the faith he had sought so tirelessly.

When Xuanzang returned to China, his fame had already preceded him. Emperor Taizong, recognizing the monk’s vast knowledge and the reverence he had earned, wished to appoint him to a position within the imperial court. But this was far from Xuanzang’s own vision—his heart was set on sharing the spiritual treasures he had gathered, not on serving in political circles.

The emperor was reportedly displeased by this refusal. Fortunately, a wise intervention came from one of Xuanzang’s relatives, who diplomatically persuaded the emperor to allow him the freedom to document his experiences instead. And so, with imperial blessing, Xuanzang began to write—giving birth to the monumental work known as Records of the Western Regions, a timeless chronicle of his extraordinary journey through lands, cultures, and the soul of Buddhism.

Ironically, while his writings captured a vibrant Buddhist world, time was not kind to the religion in India. Centuries later, Buddhism waned and withered, nearly vanishing from its birthplace. It wasn’t until the era of British India that many of its sacred sites—including Bodhgaya—were rediscovered, largely thanks to the meticulous chronicles left behind by Xuanzang.

In 1999, another traveler—Sun Shuyun—set out to retrace his footsteps. Following the ancient Silk Road from Handan to India and back, she sought to experience what Xuanzang had seen, but her account is painted with the hues of melancholy. So much had changed—lands, peoples, and even faiths. Her narrative, though lengthy, was deeply moving, revealing not only the erosion of time but also the enduring power of one man's devotion to truth.

And in the end, it was not the Monkey King's magic that lingered in my mind—but the quiet, unwavering courage of the monk who walked across worlds to bring enlightenment home.