Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016

Foreign Travelers in Ancient India

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The Chinese Pilgrim who visited India in the early 6th century was-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Chinese travelers visited India in waves across different centuries, each providing a unique snapshot of the prevailing political and religious conditions.

Explanation Sung Yun (or Song Yun) was a Chinese Buddhist monk sent by the Empress Hu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. He visited India between 518 and 522 CE, which falls in the early 6th century.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Fahien (Option B): Visited in the early 5th century (c. 399-414 CE) during Chandragupta II's reign.
Logic 2: Ywan Chwang (Option A): Visited in the 7th century (c. 629-645 CE) during Harsha's reign.
Logic 3: I-tsing (Option D): Visited in the late 7th century (c. 671-695 CE).
Logic 4: Sung Yun's visit is unique for documenting the conditions in North-Western India during the Huna disruption.

Active Recall

Question

Which Chinese dynasty sent Sung Yun to India?

Answer

He was sent by the Northern Wei Dynasty of China.

Core Insight

Sung Yun's account is a vital source for understanding the Huna impact on Buddhism in the Gandhara region.