Xuanzang was born in a noble family. His ancestor was Ai Chen, a famous minister in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and his grandfather was a doctor in the Northern Qi Dynasty. His father was an official in the Sui Dynasty and returned to his hometown after the collapse of the Sui Dynasty. Xuanzang was born in such a family, received a good education since childhood, and was also very smart. His brother later became a monk in Luoyang, and he also became a monk with his brother after he died at the age of 12. During the period from the end of Sui Dynasty to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains was constantly in war, and Xuanzang went to Sichuan to continue studying Buddhism. He read widely and learned from others, and gradually became a respected mage. He also often travels around to give lectures.
Buddhism originated in ancient India and was introduced to China in the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, the development of Buddhism in China has gradually come to a dead end. The reason is that there are differences between North and South Buddhism. If this contradiction cannot be reconciled, Buddhism cannot be carried forward in China. At this time, Xuanzang heard that there was Mahayana Sutra in Tianzhu, and thought that it could unify China's Buddhist thought and promote the development of Buddhism in China. In 627, Xuanzang wanted to go to Tianzhu, but was rejected by Emperor Taizong. After being rejected, he actually made a fake document, a fake seal, and wanted to go to Tianzhu to get the true scriptures alone.
Xuanzang set out in 628, entered the Western Regions through the Hexi Corridor, crossed the Gobi Desert in Xinjiang to West Asia, continued south through Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places and finally arrived in Tianzhu. According to statistics, the total distance of Xuanzang's voyage to the West has reached 13800, which is really admirable. He experienced the customs of different countries along the way and finally entered India. His arrival was welcomed by Indian Buddhist disciples. Xuanzang studied in Nalanduo Temple for five years and learned many Buddhist classics that the Central Plains had never heard of. Xuanzang left India in 643. When he returned home, he arrived in Chang 'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty, in 645 with 657 Buddhist scriptures. When Emperor Taizong learned that Xuanzang had returned, he was very happy and came to meet him in person. Emperor Taizong was very unhappy about Xuanzang's leaving without saying goodbye. Xuanzang also said that it was wrong to act privately, and he was afraid. After hearing this, Emperor Taizong said with emotion: Master Xuanzang broke up with the secular world after becoming a monk and sacrificed himself for the sake of the whole world, which is really admirable.
Because Xuanzang himself went to Tianzhu to get the scriptures, his position in Buddhism in the Central Plains improved, and Buddhists in North Korea and Japan respected Xuanzang very much. Master Xuanzang died in 664 AD, and his bones were preserved for a long time and lost in the war. 1943 Japanese invaders found a stone letter, which was identified as Xuanzang's skull! The Japanese also respect Xuanzang very much, and they want to bring it back to Japan. However, it was finally discovered by our army. In order to preserve the skull, it was finally divided into three parts. Now master Xuanzang's skull has become a symbol, and the three skulls have been divided into small parts. Many temples enshrine his skull and are worshipped by Buddhists.