Buzz
Contrary to the tales in 'Journey to the West,' the quest for scriptures by Tang Monk in real history lacked Emperor Tang's support and was even explicitly forbidden.
Fans of Journey to the West are familiar with the character Tang Monk, also known as Tang Sanzang, portrayed as a real historical figure, a distinguished monk during the Tang Dynasty in China. However, the truth about his life and scripture-seeking journey differs significantly from the novel or film, sometimes even contradicting the narrative.
Not Fatherless: In 'Journey to the West,' Tang Monk is depicted as fatherless from birth, with his father assassinated and his mother forced to marry the murderer.
In the epic, Tang Monk is portrayed as orphaned from birth, his father assassinated, and his mother compelled to marry the murderer.
However, historical records reveal the monk was raised by his foster father from a young age, displaying remarkable intelligence early on.
Born in 602 (some sources claim 600), Tang Monk, also known as Tran Huy, hailed from Lac Chau, Cau Thi District, Ha Nam Province, China. Despite a family tradition in government service, he diverged from his father's path, Tran Hue, delving into Confucian studies.
Not Monastic Since Infancy
In Journey to the West, due to her husband's murder, Tang Monk's mother endured life with the malicious murderer while awaiting justice, protecting her child by placing the newborn in a basket, hoping for a kind-hearted soul to care for him. Fate led the basket to a temple, and the child embarked on a life of cultivation from a young age.
In reality, Monk Tang Huyen Trang lived with his family, entering monastic life at 13 as a novice monk, officially becoming a fully ordained monk at 21. He swiftly gained fame as a young talent in the Buddhist community.
Seeking Scriptures Against the King's Decree
Journey to the West narrates that Buddha wished to transmit sutras to the East, tasking Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with finding someone. Monk Huyen Trang from the Great Tang Dynasty was chosen. Despite the king's opposition, Tang supported the monk's journey, resulting in a grand and emotional farewell.
In reality, the journey to the land of Buddhism to request scriptures was the heartfelt desire of Monk Tang. Back in China, scriptures were scarce, and various senior monks provided conflicting interpretations, leading to numerous conflicts and debates. Therefore, the young monk, known by the Dharma name Huyen Trang, wanted to go to Tianzhu to personally explore and get closer to the most original scriptures.
Despite the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty issuing a decree prohibiting travel to India, he set out in 629. Upon a successful return, Monk Huyen Trang gained the support of the Tang emperor in organizing the translation of scriptures. His famous work, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, a priceless source on the geography, society, and customs of Central Asia and 7th-century India, was commissioned by the emperor.
Reached Tianzhu in Just 1 Year
Journey to the West narrates that it took Tang Sanzang and his disciples, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, 14 years to travel from the Great Tang to Tianzhu, experiencing 81 tribulations.
In reality, Monk Huyen Trang took just over a year to reach the land of Buddhism. However, it wasn't until 645, 16 years after leaving the Great Tang, that he returned to his homeland. The reason was that upon reaching Tianzhu, the young monk noticed the differences between Indian and Chinese Buddhism. Many profound aspects of Buddhism were unknown in his homeland. Therefore, he decided to stay, study, and research. He studied with the most renowned teachers, participated in debates with numerous scholars, gaining fame for his eloquence and consistently winning debates.
Upon returning to China, Monk Huyen Trang brought more than 600 sets of scriptures written in Pali and translated them into Chinese. He is considered one of the four great translators specializing in translating Pali scriptures into Chinese. He also founded the Dharmaruci school, a Buddhist sect in China.
Beyond the merit of 'requesting scriptures,' the widespread respect and renown of Monk Huyen Trang gained in India made him one of the most revered monks in East Asia of his generation. His disciples came from all over China, Korea, and Japan. The title 'Tam Tang' was bestowed upon him by the monastic community, acknowledging him as a rare figure well-versed in all three baskets of Buddhist scriptures: Sutra, Vinaya, and Abhidharma.
