The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions (traditional Chinese: 大唐西域記; simplified Chinese: 大唐西域记; Hanyu Pinyin: Dà Táng Xīyù Jì; Wade-Giles: Ta T'ang Hsiyü Chi) is a travelogue and recounts of Xuanzang's nineteen years journey through Chang'an to India between 626 and 645. It was complied by Bianji in 646, disciple of Xuanzang, who spent more than one year editing the book through Xuanzang's dictation.

The book contain about 100,000 words and are divided into 12 volumes, which narrated the geography position, land and maritime transportation, climate, local products, people, language, history, politics, economic life, religion, culture, custom practice in 110 countries and 28 hearsay countries, regions and city-states from present-day Xinjiang to Sri Lanka. It has a considerable large historical materials on India, the condition of then Buddhist monasteries, and has a high historical value on the description of Central Asia during the early 7th century.

References

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• Zhu, Yunqiu and Wang, Lixin. Da Tang Xiyu Ji Zhong De Yinduren Xingxiang (The Image of Indians in the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions). Journal of Shenyang University. 2005.2. p. 98-102. ISSN 1008-9225.
• Tang, Qinfu (2001). History of Chinese Historiography. Taiyuan: Shanxi Education Press. ISBN 7-5440-2111-4. p. 230-232.
• Xie, Fang, "Da Tang Xiyu Ji" ("Great Tang Records on the Western Regions"). Encyclopedia of China, 1st ed.
• Zhang Xiuping et al (1993). 100 Books That Influenced China: Da Tang Xiyu Ji. Nanning: Guangxi Renmin Press. ISBN 7-219-02339-1. p. 392-398.

External links

• Da Tang Xiyu Ji "Records from the Regions West of the Great Tang Empire" — Chinaknowledge.de.
• 大唐西域記 online text of "Records from the Regions West of the Great Tang Empire"

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