The Desperate Pilgrimage Begins

In the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty, a determined Buddhist monk named Xuanzang found himself in a precarious situation at the frontier town of Guazhou. Having narrowly escaped capture with the help of local official Li Chang, Xuanzang faced immediate danger if he remained in Chinese territory. His circumstances grew increasingly dire – his horse had died, his two companion monks had departed, leaving him completely alone in hostile borderlands where imperial edicts prohibited unauthorized travel beyond the frontier.

Driven by both necessity and spiritual devotion, Xuanzang sought refuge in a local temple to pray before the statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha. This act of devotion would set in motion a series of extraordinary encounters that would shape his historic journey to the West. The temple visit reveals much about the religious landscape of the time – Xuanzang’s choice of Maitreya reflects both popular devotion and his own scholarly interests in more accurate translations of Buddhist terms (he later translated “Maitreya” as “Maitri” based on original Sanskrit).

An Auspicious Dream and Divine Guidance

The temple housed a foreign monk named Dharma (meaning “truth” in Sanskrit), who had experienced a remarkable dream the previous night. He envisioned a fair-skinned Han Chinese monk riding westward on a lotus flower. When Xuanzang appeared the next day, Dharma immediately recognized him as the figure from his vision and shared the prophetic dream. Though Xuanzang outwardly dismissed dreams as “illusory and not worth mentioning,” he privately took this as a favorable omen for his dangerous journey.

This episode highlights the multicultural nature of Tang Dynasty Buddhism, where Chinese monks interacted with foreign religious practitioners. The term “Hu monk” (foreign monk) reflects the diverse origins of Buddhist teachers in China, much like how everyday objects with “Hu” prefixes (such as “huluobo” for carrot or “huqin” for fiddle) denoted foreign origins. The cultural exchange went beyond religion – from sitting customs (the Chinese adopted chairs from foreign “Hu beds”) to musical instruments (what we now consider traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu were originally imports).

The Unlikely Disciple: Shibantuo’s Conversion

During his prayers, Xuanzang encountered a local foreigner named Shibantuo, who circled him three times before requesting ordination as a lay Buddhist. Xuanzang administered the Five Precepts (Pancasila), the fundamental ethical code for lay followers:

1. Abstention from killing living beings
2. Abstention from stealing
3. Abstention from sexual misconduct
4. Abstention from false speech
5. Abstention from intoxicants

These precepts served specific purposes in Buddhist practice – the first three guarded against bodily transgressions, the fourth against verbal misconduct, and the fifth protected against all violations by preventing intoxication-induced lapses. The ordination ceremony created a teacher-disciple relationship between Xuanzang and Shibantuo, who then brought offerings of cakes and fruits to honor his new spiritual guide.

A Dangerous Partnership Forms

Recognizing Shibantuo’s physical strength, intelligence, and new religious commitment, Xuanzang revealed his audacious plan to travel west beyond the forbidden frontier – a capital offense under Tang law. Surprisingly, Shibantuo enthusiastically agreed to help, arranging a nighttime departure to avoid detection. He brought along an elderly foreigner with extensive travel experience and a seemingly inferior “thin, old red horse.”

The elderly traveler attempted to dissuade Xuanzang, warning of the journey’s extreme dangers without merchant caravans for protection. Xuanzang’s resolute response became legendary: “I set forth to the West in search of the great Dharma. Unless I reach the land of the Brahmins [India], I shall not return east. Even if I die along the way, I shall have no regrets.” This declaration of unwavering commitment moved the old man to offer his experienced horse, which had made fifteen round trips to Hami (Yiwu).

The Prophetic Red Horse and the Perilous Crossing

The elderly man’s horse held special significance. Earlier in Chang’an, a diviner named He Hongda had prophesied Xuanzang would travel west riding “an old, thin red horse with an iron piece in front of its lacquered saddle.” The donated horse perfectly matched this description, convincing Xuanzang of divine approval for his journey.

Under cover of darkness, the group reached the Hulu River near Yumen Pass. Shibantuo demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and strength by building a makeshift bridge from felled trees, brush, and sand, allowing them to cross the supposedly impassable river. After this exhausting feat, they camped in the open, with Shibantuo sleeping about fifty paces from Xuanzang.

Betrayal in the Night: A Test of Faith

The night took a terrifying turn when Xuanzang, in a half-awake state, noticed Shibantuo approaching with drawn knife, pacing back and forth ominously. This shocking behavior from a newly-ordained Buddhist layman (whose first precept prohibited killing) revealed the extreme pressures of their illegal border crossing. Xuanzang began chanting the name of Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion), causing Shibantuo to retreat.

At dawn, Xuanzang confronted the situation with remarkable composure, commanding Shibantuo to fetch water as if unaware of the night’s events. Shibantuo then confessed his fears about the journey’s dangers and the death penalty they faced if caught. He particularly worried about Xuanzang revealing his involvement if captured. Xuanzang responded with an earth-shaking vow: “Even if my body were cut into dust-like particles, I would never implicate you.”

Parting Ways at the Frontier

This profound promise apparently satisfied Shibantuo, who abandoned his murderous intentions. Demonstrating extraordinary compassion, Xuanzang allowed Shibantuo to return without retribution, even giving him the horse purchased in Guazhou. Left alone with only the old red horse, Xuanzang faced the formidable Five Beacon Towers – military outposts guarding the frontier – with their vigilant garrisons ready to capture or kill trespassers.

This dramatic episode reveals much about Tang frontier policy, the risks of religious pilgrimage, and intercultural relations along the Silk Road. Xuanzang’s encounter with Shibantuo particularly illustrates the complex dynamics between Chinese and foreign communities in border regions, where populations often included more foreigners than Han Chinese. The narrative also showcases Xuanzang’s remarkable character – his spiritual resolve, intellectual rigor, and ability to navigate perilous situations through both wisdom and what he interpreted as divine intervention.

The story of Xuanzang’s journey would eventually inspire the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, though the historical account contains its own rich drama of faith, betrayal, and perseverance against impossible odds. As Xuanzang continued alone toward the deadly beacon towers, his greatest challenges still lay ahead in the treacherous deserts beyond China’s frontier.