Chinese Pilgrims to Central Asia, India and SE Asia Maps and Text
By Ānandajoti Bhikkhu
The original transmission of Buddhism to China was by Indian and especially by Central Asian monks who travelled along the silk trading routes taking the new religion with them, setting up some of the most iconic cave temples along the way, such as the Kezelik and Mogao grottoes.
It was not very long though before Chinese monks started traveling in the opposite direction in order to bring back more relaible source texts for their new-found religion. The journey could be very dangerous indeed, whether they travelled via the overland route through the Taklamakan desert and over the Pamir mountains, or along the sea routes via S.E. Asia. Besides the perils of crossing thousands of kilometres through deserts, freezing mountain passes, or going through unsettled high seas, there was also the danger of pirates, thieves and famines.
These monks were prepared to make such a dangerous crossing in search of the materials they needed, normally on foot, and often spending years to get to their destination, because they believed that India held the key to the True Dharma.
The maps below are simply indicative of the travels they made, rather than comprehensive, and are only meant to give an idea of the routes they travelled along. Some more details are found in the appended notes.
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