In China's four famous works "Journey to the West", the Tang monk we see is the image of a high-ranking monk. He was handsome, holding a white horse in his hand, and hard-working. Following his four disciples through hardships and obstacles along the way, after 9981 difficulties, he finally obtained the True Scriptures and returned to Datang. And he himself became a Buddha because of his meritorious service in taking the sutras. Of course, this is a legend, the real Tang monk in history, but without the help of the omnipotent disciple Sun Wukong. In the end, he did not become a Buddha, but was repeatedly suppressed and excluded, and was placed under house arrest by the emperor.
Xuanzang was born very well, was a descendant of the famous Eastern Han Dynasty minister Chen Yi, great-grandfather Chen Qin, who served as the Taishou of the Later Wei Shangdang; his grandfather Chen Kang, who excelled in his studies from Northern Qi, served as a doctor of Guozi, and his father Chen Hui was also immersed in learning, read the scriptures, and served as a county official in Jiangling. Xuanzang, who was born in this way, was familiar with Confucian classics since childhood and had excellent character. Later, after the death of his father, Xuanzang's brother became a monk, and he followed his brother in the temple to begin studying the scriptures.
In the first year of Zhenguan, Xuanzang traveled 50,000 miles west alone and reached the Indian Buddhist center of Nalanda Monastery to take the true scriptures, and for seventeen years, he studied all kinds of the teachings of the Mahayana at that time. In 645, Xuanzang returned with a total of 150 Relics of the Buddha, 7 statues of the Buddha, and 657 sutras. His return was highly valued by Emperor Taizong of Tang and Li Shimin, summoned by the emperor, and had to sit side by side with the emperor, which was a supreme honor.
Li Shimin asked him, "Why didn't the Master report to the imperial court when he went west to learn the scriptures?" Xuanzang said, "Xuanzang will play it again and again when he goes." But I sincerely hope that the slightly shallow court will not be allowed. The absence of any admiration is a private act. The sin of monopoly is only deeply feared. After hearing this, Li Shimin was very touched, and he said: "After the Master became a monk, he broke with the world, so he was able to entrust himself with the task of asking for the Fa to benefit the people."
Xuanzang's contributions to Central Plains Buddhism are obvious to all, and the Manchu Dynasty has treated him with courtesy. As a monk, to be treated in this way, life can be said to have reached its peak. However, as soon as Tang Taizong died, Xuanzang's good life also came to an end, and he was also involved in a political struggle, and was suppressed by many in his later years.
After the death of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Emperor Gaozong succeeded to the throne. Li Zhi did not need to elaborate on how he was a man, and he was weak and let the power of the government be in the hands of the former courtiers. After a long time, Li Zhi was not happy, and he decided to gradually eliminate the old ministers and regain real power. How to operate? While Li Zhi was worried, a small official wrote a book to relieve him.
What this little official wrote was to accuse Xuanzang of making mistakes in translating the scriptures. The accusations are sharp, and they are even attacked by name. After the book came out, it caused an uproar, and there was a lot of discussion in the imperial court. Xuanzang was very aggrieved and flustered, and the first person he thought of who could help him calm this disaster was a former courtier and Li Zhi's former teacher.
The teacher came out, and the emperor naturally wanted to give face, but in fact, the emperor had long wanted to seize the opportunity to seize the power of these old ministers. He asked Xuanzang to debate with the petty officials who wrote books at the court. Naturally Xuanzang won the debate tournament, but Li Zhi saw Xuanzang clearly and the people behind him. When Xuanzang encountered problems, the first thing he thought about was not to explain to the emperor, but to find the former courtiers! Since then, Li Zhi has suppressed Xuanzang in every way, and Xuanzang has only been careful everywhere, and continues to translate the scriptures like walking on thin ice. Even when he was sick and saw a doctor, Li Zhi sent someone to monitor him.
In his later years, Xuanzang was very miserable, but he painstakingly persevered for his own career and finally completed the translation of many scriptures. After a long time, the emperor finally found that Xuanzang had no second thoughts, and also opened up to him.