Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim travelled to India during the reign of

• Fa-Hien was a Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler who visited India during the reign of Gupta emperor Chandragupta II (c. 399–414 CE).
• He came to India with the primary objective of collecting original Buddhist scriptures and studying Buddhist monastic discipline (Vinaya).

• He traveled through Central Asia, Gandhara, Punjab, Mathura, Kannauj, Kapilavastu, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Bodh Gaya, and Tamralipti.
• He returned to China by sea via Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, making his journey one of the earliest recorded sea voyages by a Chinese pilgrim.

• His travel account is known as “Fo-Kuo-Ki” (Record of Buddhist Kingdoms).
• The book provides valuable information on Indian society, religion, administration, and economy during the Gupta period.

• Fa-Hien described India as a prosperous and well-governed country with mild punishments and a generally peaceful society.
• He noted that capital punishment was rare, and punishments mostly involved fines or expulsion.
• Roads were safe, and travellers could move freely without fear.

• He gave detailed accounts of Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and pilgrim centers, especially at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.
• Buddhism was flourishing, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, though Hinduism was also widely practiced.

• Fa-Hien observed that caste system existed, and Chandalas lived outside villages and were treated as untouchables.
• He mentioned charitable institutions, free hospitals, and rest houses supported by wealthy merchants and rulers.

• His account provides important evidence of Gupta administration, which was mild and welfare-oriented.
• He did not mention the caste-based rigidity seen in later periods, suggesting a relatively flexible social structure.

• He gives little information on political administration and military affairs, as his focus was mainly religious.
• His writings are considered reliable and unbiased, as he traveled purely for religious purposes and not as a political envoy.

• Fa-Hien’s account is an important source for understanding:
– Gupta society and economy
– Condition of Buddhism in India
– Urban life and trade
– Religious tolerance of the period

• Limitation of his account:
– Less information on political institutions
– Focused mainly on Buddhism
– Less coverage of southern India

Conclusion:
Fa-Hien’s travelogue is one of the most important foreign accounts of ancient India. It presents a picture of a peaceful, prosperous, and well-administered Gupta Empire and remains a crucial source for studying early Indian history, society, and religion.