The saga of the 7th-century Chinese monk Xuanzang, who completed an epic 16-year journey to discover the heart of Buddhism at its source in India, is a story of human struggle and triumph. The author of this book, who journeyed in Xuanzang's footsteps, describes the perils Xuanzang faced, the monasteries he visited (many of which are standing to this day), and the eight places of Buddhist pilgrimage in India. Detailed maps and photographs provide evidence of the vast distances involved and the appalling dangers Zuanzang endured. Reproductions of Buddhist art from museums around the world not only reflect the religion but reveal a cosmopolitan era in which pilgrims were both adventurers and ambassadors of goodwill.