I-Ching

views updated May 17 2018

I-Ching (Jap., Gijō; 635–713). Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller. He entered the religious life when young, and travelled to India in 671. His journey took him through more than thirty countries, and he returned in 695 with relics and images, and also with texts which he set about translating, completing fifty-six works before he died. He also wrote a record of his travels, Nankai-kiki-den. He was given the title of sanzō (san-tsang), one well-versed in Buddhist teaching.