UPSC Prelims 2025 Q15: Ancient History – Foreign Travellers & Accounts
Fa - hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of
- (a) Samudragupta
- (b) Chandragupta II
- (c) Kumaragupta I
- (d) Skandagupta
Answer: (b) Chandragupta II
Explanation
Faxian (Fa-hien) — Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, c. 399–414 CE
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Ruler in India | Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya), c. 375–415 CE |
| Purpose | Collect Vinaya (monastic discipline) texts |
| Book | Fo-kuo-chi — "A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms" |
| Places visited | Peshawar, Mathura, Kapilavastu, Pataliputra, Tamralipti, Sri Lanka |
| What he saw | Peaceful and prosperous land, light taxes, rare capital punishment, free hospitals in Pataliputra |
| Social note | Describes Chandalas living outside towns and striking wood to announce themselves |
Chinese pilgrims compared:
| Pilgrim | Period | Indian ruler |
|---|---|---|
| Faxian | c. 399–414 CE | Chandragupta II (Gupta) |
| Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) | 629–645 CE | Harshavardhana |
| I-tsing (Yijing) | 671–695 CE | Post-Harsha period; studied at Nalanda |
Strangely, Faxian never names the king he lived under.
Answer: (b) Chandragupta II.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Samudragupta (c. 335–375 CE) ruled before Faxian arrived in 399 CE.
- (b) CORRECT. Faxian travelled during the reign of Chandragupta II, the peak of the Gupta age.
- (c) Incorrect. Kumaragupta I (c. 415–455 CE) founded Nalanda, after Faxian had left India.
- (d) Incorrect. Skandagupta (c. 455–467 CE) fought the Hunas, long after Faxian's visit.
Key point
Faxian = Chandragupta II; Xuanzang = Harsha; I-tsing = Nalanda in the late 7th century.
Remember
Faxian visited India under Chandragupta II, around 399–414 CE.
Common mistakes
- Swapping Faxian and Xuanzang; Xuanzang came over two centuries later, under Harsha.
- Choosing Kumaragupta I because of Nalanda; Faxian did not visit Nalanda as a university.
- Assuming Faxian names the king; he does not, so the date range is what decides the answer.
Exam tip
F before X before I — Faxian (400 CE), Xuanzang (630 CE), I-tsing (670 CE). Match the date to the ruler.
Sources
- NCERT Class VI — Our Pasts I (New Empires and Kingdoms)
- Faxian — A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms (tr. James Legge)
- R.S. Sharma — India's Ancient Past