A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms
Being an account by the Chinese monk Fa-hsien of travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist books of discipline
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms is the account by the Chinese monk Faxian, or Fa-hsien, of his journey from China to India and Ceylon between A.D. 399 and 414 in search of the Buddhist books of discipline. Translated and annotated by the Scottish sinologist James Legge, who published it in 1886, it follows Faxian across the deserts of Central Asia and the passes of the Hindu Kush, through the kingdoms of northern India and the holy places of the Buddha's life, to Ceylon, and home by a perilous sea voyage. It is one of the earliest firsthand descriptions of India by a foreign traveler. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms by Faxian can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms online?
Yes. A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms in the public domain?
Yes. A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms by Faxian is a public-domain work, here in the translation by James Legge. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms?
About 3 h 19 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms?
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms by Faxian is filed under "Religion & Mythology" in the Vinteuil library.
