Xuanzang
Left Chang’an for India, studied for years at Nalanda, returned with hundreds of scriptures to translate, and dictated the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions.
| Lived | AD 602 – AD 664 |
| Known as | Buddhist monk and translator |
| Birthplace or main place | Yanshi, near Luoyang |
| Places on the map | Xi'an, Dunhuang, Taxila, Patna |
Yanshi, near LuoyangSee the world of Xuanzang in the interactive map
Who ruled these places in his lifetime
| Place | At birth (map of AD 600) | At death (map of AD 600) |
|---|---|---|
| Yanshi, near Luoyang | Sui Empire | same |
| Xi'an | Sui Empire | same |
| Dunhuang | Unclaimed / no data | same |
| Taxila | Hindu kingdoms | same |
| Patna | Shaskanka | same |
From the border maps nearest to each date; borders are approximate.
Events in his lifetime
| Year | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| AD 618 | The Tang dynasty is founded; Chang'an becomes a metropolis of a million people | Xi'an |
| AD 630 | Xuanzang finds the city in decline when he visits | Taxila |
Battles and sites of the time
- Battle of Baekgang · AD 663
Further reading
Contemporaries
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| AD 598 – AD 649 | Emperor Taizong of Tang | Tang emperor |
| AD 624 – AD 705 | Wu Zetian | China’s only empress regnant |
| c. AD 570 – AD 632 | Muhammad | Prophet of Islam |
| AD 574 – AD 622 | Prince Shōtoku | Regent of Japan |
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.