Kathmandu. A Nepali translation of the book ‘Archives of the Western Region of the Great Tang’ has been made public by a Chinese monk in Nepal.

National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal launched the book amidst a programme in the capital today.

On the occasion, Chairman Dahal said that the book would provide information about various dimensions of China’s historical aspect. He said that Chinese monk Xuanzang had written the book after returning to China after a risky journey.

Chairman Dahal said that the relations between the two countries have been culturally linked due to Manjushree to Hiuen Tsang and Bhrikuti and Araniko. He said that the author has incorporated the things he saw and learned in the journey in the book.

In the program, he said that the relations between Nepal and China are not only one-sided. He also claimed that the relations between the two countries have progressed equally in terms of knowledge, skills, culture and business. He claimed that Nepal is committed to the One China policy and is our big development partner.

Former Education Minister Raghuji Pant said that the phrase written on page 123 of the book confirms that Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is in Nepal. “There is a stone pillar made by Emperor Ashoka. It is said that there was a statue of a horse on the top of the pillar and later it was broken by lightning.”

He said, “The aforementioned phrases mentioned in this book written in Chinese language during the visit of the parliamentary committee from the parliamentary committee to Lumbini proved that the Buddha was born in Lumbini on the basis of evidences.

Stating that China has moved ahead on the basis of Buddha’s right thinking, former Minister Pant expressed the belief that the translation of the book would also contribute to Nepal-China friendship. It is mentioned in the book that about 1,400 years ago, Buddhist monk Xuanzang from Chang’an, the capital of ancient China, reached Nalanda in 636 AD while traveling through Central Asia with unwavering courage and self-confidence. In the same process, he identified and studied Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal, as well as other ancient kingdoms and religious places.

After returning to China, he wrote the book ‘Archives of the Western Region of the Great Tang’ as a work of his accounts and archives. This book, written in Chinese language, was translated into Nepali language after about 1,400 years. The price of the book printed by Avratti Printing Pvt. Ltd. has been fixed at one thousand.

Hiuen Tsang is the author of the book published by the Godhuli Art Literature Academy. He wrote the book in traditional Chinese language. The modern Chinese translation of which has been done by Fu Qiang and Nepali translation by Diksha Dawadi. The book translated in Nepali has been edited by Ganesh Kumar GC.