EXPLORER

Xuanzang

602 - 664

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Xuanzang (Chinese: 玄奘; Wade–Giles: Hsüen Tsang; [ɕɥɛ̌n.tsâŋ]; 6 April 602 – 5 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (陳褘 / 陳禕), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making contributions to Chinese Buddhism, the travelogue of his journey to the Indian subcontinent in 629–645, his efforts to bring at least 657 Indian texts to China, and his translations of some of these texts. He was only able to translate 75 distinct sections of a total of 1335 chapters, but his translations included some of the most important Mahayana scriptures. Xuanzang was born on 6 April 602 in Chenliu, near present-day Luoyang, in Henan province of China. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Xuanzang is the 23rd most popular explorer (down from 17th in 2019), the 36th most popular biography from China (down from 22nd in 2019) and the 2nd most popular Chinese Explorer.

Xuanzang is most famous for the journey he took to India in search of Buddhist scriptures.

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Among EXPLORERS

Among explorers, Xuanzang ranks 23 out of 498. Before him are Robert Falcon Scott, Fridtjof Nansen, Pedro Álvares Cabral, Abel Tasman, Vitus Bering, and Erik the Red. After him are Willem Barentsz, Jacques Cousteau, Juan Sebastián Elcano, David Livingstone, Thor Heyerdahl, and Thorfinn Karlsefni.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 602, Xuanzang ranks 1. After him are Hafsa bint Umar, Umm Salama, Sigebert II, Ansegisel, Adaloald, and Theodore of Tarsus. Among people deceased in 664, Xuanzang ranks 1. After him are Amr ibn al-As, Abe no Hirafu, Swithhelm of Essex, Eorcenberht of Kent, and Deusdedit of Canterbury.

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In China

Among people born in China, Xuanzang ranks 36 out of 1,610. Before him are Kanishka (78), Cai Lun (48), Jiang Zemin (1926), Toshiro Mifune (1920), Zhuge Liang (181), and Kangxi Emperor (1654). After him are Hongwu Emperor (1328), Liu Bei (161), Guan Yu (162), Yongle Emperor (1360), Zhou Enlai (1898), and Emperor Taizong of Tang (598).

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Among EXPLORERS In China

Among explorers born in China, Xuanzang ranks 2. Before him are Zheng He (1387). After him are Zhang Qian (-200), Xu Fu (-255), Gan Ying (100), and Ma Huan (1380).

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