Tang Sanzang decides to journey to the West to obtain the Buddhist scriptures

Now, the city of Chang’an in Shaanxi had been the imperial capital since the times of the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties. At this time, Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang, Li Shimin, was on the throne, in the thirteenth year of his Zhenguan reign. Li Shimin decided to hold a Grand Mass of Land and Water lasting seven times seven days—forty-nine days in all—to deliver the souls suffering in hell. He issued a proclamation ordering officials throughout the land to recommend enlightened monks to come to Chang’an to perform the rites. Within less than a month, many monks from across the realm had gathered. The Tang Emperor then decreed that a virtuous abbot be chosen from among them. The assembly recommended the Dharma Master Xuanzang.

This man had become a monk in his youth. His maternal grandfather was Yin Kaishan, a Regional Commander of the dynasty, and his father was Chen Guangrui, a Grand Secretary. Thus, Li Shimin appointed him as the Grand Abbot of the Great Altar.

On the third day of the ninth month, Jiaxu, the Great Dharma Master Chen Xuanzang gathered twelve hundred eminent monks at the Huasheng Temple in Chang’an to expound the sutras. Emperor Taizong and his civil and military officials all came to listen. When the Bodhisattva Guanyin heard of this, she learned that the presiding master was the very child of the Buddha, descended from the Pure Land—the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, one of the Buddha’s disciples. Delighted, she also attended to observe. Mingling among the crowd, she looked up and saw that the master indeed bore the visage of the Golden Cicada.

The Dharma Master Xuanzang stood upon the platform, now reciting the Sutra for the Salvation of the Dead, now discoursing on the Tome of Peace for the Nation, and then expounding the Scroll Exhorting Cultivation of Merit. The Bodhisattva stepped forward, struck the precious altar, and declared aloud: “Monk! Can you only discuss the teachings of the Theravada? Do you know the Mahayana?” Hearing this, Xuanzang descended from the platform, bowed to the Bodhisattva, and said, “Venerable Master, this humble disciple has been remiss. The monks of old all taught the Theravada path. I know nothing of the Mahayana.” The Bodhisattva replied, “Your Theravada teachings cannot deliver the dead; they merely refine local customs. But I possess the Three Baskets of Mahayana scriptures, which can lift the dead to heaven, deliver mortals from suffering, cultivate bodies of immeasurable longevity, and attain the state of no coming and no going.”

Nearby, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin overheard this and asked in delight, “Where are these Mahayana scriptures?” The Bodhisattva answered, “In the Great Thunderclap Monastery of the Western Heaven, with the Tathagata Buddha.” The Emperor asked, “Do you remember their contents?” “I do,” she replied. Overjoyed, Taizong invited her to ascend the platform and preach.

The Bodhisattva then soared onto the high altar, trod auspicious clouds, and ascended to the ninth heaven, revealing her true form: the Bodhisattva holding a pure vase with a willow sprig. The Tang Emperor, his ministers, and all the monks cried out in awe, prostrated themselves toward the sky, and chanted, “Homage to the Bodhisattva Guanyin!” Moments later, the Bodhisattva’s cloud slowly receded into the distance and vanished, leaving only a scroll drifting down from the sky. On it were written these verses:

To the sovereign of Great Tang, homage be!In the West, wondrous scriptures you shall see.Ten thousand miles and eight thousand the way—Seek the Mahayana without delay.

After reading the verses, Taizong commanded the monks to cease their lectures until the Mahayana scriptures could be fetched. Then he asked, “Who will journey to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures?” The Dharma Master Xuanzang stepped forward: “This unworthy monk is willing to serve, even as a dog or horse.” The Tang Emperor was overjoyed and at once exchanged brotherly vows with Xuanzang, addressing him as “Imperial Brother, Holy Monk.” Xuanzang bowed deeply and vowed, “Your Majesty, if I do not reach the Western Heaven or obtain the true scriptures, may I die abroad and never return.” Taizong, greatly pleased, then asked, “What is your honorable title, Imperial Brother?” Xuanzang replied, “This humble monk has no title.” The Emperor said, “The Bodhisattva spoke of ‘Three Baskets’ of scriptures in the West. Shall we name you Tang Sanzang?” Xuanzang again thanked him for the grace.

The next day, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin personally saw Tang Sanzang off, presenting him with a travel rescript stamped with the imperial seal. He also bestowed upon him the kasaya robe and staff left by the Bodhisattva. The Emperor said, “Imperial Brother, I give you this purple-gold alms bowl for your journey. I also assign you two attendants and a silver-maned horse.” Tang Sanzang, deeply moved, accepted the wine offered by the Emperor. As he was about to drink, Taizong bent down, took a pinch of soil from the ground, and flicked it into the wine, saying:

“Your journey is long, over hill and stream—Cherish one speck of our native soil,More than foreign gold or a king’s esteem.”

Tang Sanzang bowed in gratitude, drank the wine, and took his leave. What became of his journey? The next chapter will tell.