The Real Tripitaka
Published in 1952, this scholarly work examines the historical life and perilous journey of the real Xuanzang, serving as a seminal study that restores the historical figure behind the legendary protagonist of Journey to the West for the English-speaking world.
The Real Tripitaka and Other Pieces is a scholarly work published in 1952 by the British sinologist Arthur Waley. Drawing upon historical documents, the book provides a detailed reconstruction of the actual journey of the 7th-century eminent monk Xuanzang—the historical prototype for Tripitaka in Journey to the West. It chronicles his departure from the Tang Dynasty, his arduous trek across mountains and rivers to India, his acquisition of the Buddhist scriptures, and his subsequent return to China to translate those texts and propagate the Dharma. Through this work, Waley distinguishes literary fiction from historical fact, revealing the profound historical foundations beneath the novel's plot. The volume also includes the travelogues of the Japanese monk Ennin during his 9th-century pilgrimage to Mount Wutai in China, as well as a historical examination of the persecution of Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty from 842 to 845 AD. It serves as an indispensable reference for those in the English-speaking world studying the historical background of Journey to the West.