Travelers' Accounts of India
Yuan Chwang's Observations on 7th Century India
Yuan Chwang reported that India used ordeals by fire and water to determine guilt and that tradesmen paid duties at ferries. However, he also noted that roads were not safe from robbery.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class VI - Our Pasts I
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2013
Evidence Source
Link ↗The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[UPSC CSE Pre 2013]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Yuan Chwang's 17-year journey (629–645 CE) provides a detailed eyewitness account of the social, legal, and economic landscape of Harsha's India.
Authentic Source Evidence
In his journal Si-Yu-Ki, Yuan Chwang records severe punishments (mutilation and ordeals) and the taxation of trade, while also noting that he himself was robbed several times.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"How were minor offences dealt with according to Yuan Chwang?"
Minor offences were typically settled with fines, whereas social or serious crimes faced severe physical punishments.
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"Yuan Chwang's account reveals a paradoxical society: highly spiritual and intellectually vibrant, yet physically dangerous for travelers and harsh in its legal implementation."
Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)