Q. In which century, did the famous Chinese pilgrim Fa-hien visit India?
(a) 4th century AD
(b) 5th century AD
(c) 6th century AD
(d) 7th century AD
Ans: (b) 5th century AD
Explanation: The famous Chinese pilgrim Fa-hien visited India in the (b) 5th century AD.
Fa-hien, also known as Faxian, was a Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar who embarked on a pilgrimage to India to study Buddhism and collect Buddhist scriptures. He undertook his journey from China to India between 399 and 414 AD.
Fa-hien’s primary objective was to visit sacred Buddhist sites in India, such as Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar, and to seek out Buddhist texts and teachings. His travels lasted for several years, during which he explored various parts of India, including present-day Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Fa-hien’s accounts of his journey and the observations he made about Indian society, culture, and Buddhism are documented in his travelogue, known as the “Record of Buddhist Kingdoms” or the “Records of the Western World.”
His pilgrimage and writings provide valuable insights into the state of Buddhism and Indian society during the 5th century AD.
