Faxian (Fa-Hsien)
English (EN)
Faxian (c. 337–422 CE) was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India and Sri Lanka in search of Buddhist scriptures and monastic traditions. His journey (399–412 CE) is one of the earliest documented pilgrimages in Buddhist history.
The Journey
Faxian traveled overland from China through Central Asia to India. He spent several years in India studying Sanskrit and collecting Buddhist scriptures. He then traveled to Sri Lanka, where he studied Theravada Buddhism and collected more texts.
The Return Journey via Java (412 CE)
On his return voyage to China, Faxian’s ship was blown off course by a storm. He landed in Java (then called “Yavadvipa” or “She-po”), where he stayed for five months. During his stay, he observed that:
- Buddhism was already established in the region.
- The local people were generous and devoted to the Buddha’s teachings.
- There were both monks and lay practitioners.
Faxian was deeply impressed by the Buddhist community in Java, and his account in the Records of Buddhist Kingdoms is the earliest surviving written evidence of Buddhism in the Indonesian archipelago.
Significance
Faxian’s account is invaluable because it:
- Proves that Buddhism was established in Java by the early 5th century.
- Confirms that Sri Lanka was a key intermediary in the transmission of Buddhism.
- Provides the earliest external documentation of Indonesian religious life.
- Shows that maritime routes between Sri Lanka and Java were active and safe enough for passage.
Legacy
Faxian is remembered as one of the pioneers of East-West cultural exchange and a key figure in the history of Buddhism in Indonesia. His writings continue to be studied by historians and archaeologists.
中文 (ZH)
法显（约337–422年）是中国佛教僧人，前往印度和斯里兰卡求法（399–412年）。他的旅程是佛教史上最早有记载的朝圣之旅之一。
返回途中经停爪哇（412年）
在返回中国的途中，法显的船被风暴吹离航线。他在爪哇（时称“耶婆提”）停留了五个月。在此期间，他观察到：
- 佛教已在该地区扎根。
- 当地人民慷慨且虔诚于佛法。
- 这里有僧侣和在家修行者。
法显在《佛国记》中的记载，是印尼群岛佛教实践的最早文字证据。
重要性
法显的记载证明：
- 佛教在5世纪初已在爪哇建立。
- 斯里兰卡是佛教传播的关键中转站。
- 斯里兰卡与爪哇之间的海上航线是活跃且安全的。
Bahasa Indonesia (ID)
Faxian (c. 337–422 M) adalah biksu Buddha Tiongkok yang bepergian ke India dan Sri Lanka (399–412 M).
Perjalanan Pulang melalui Jawa (412 M)
Dalam perjalanan pulang ke Tiongkok, kapal Faxian terdampar di Jawa, di mana ia tinggal selama lima bulan.
Signifikansi
Catatan Faxian adalah bukti tertulis paling awal tentang praktik Buddha di Nusantara.
知识关联
- buddhism-in-indonesia · 佛教在印尼
- sri-lanka · 斯里兰卡
- yijing · 义净
- sailendra-dynasty · 夏连特拉王朝