We all know that Journey to the West recounts the story of Master Xuanzang and his disciples traveling westward to seek Buddhist scriptures.
The book references many Buddhist classics, but if we were to identify the most significant one, it is undoubtedly the Heart Sutra. Journey to the West mentions the Heart Sutra a total of 15 times and even includes its full text. This clearly highlights its immense importance and revered status.
In Chapter 19 of Journey to the West, the Black Nest Chan Master (Crow’s Nest Chan Master) on Pagoda Mountain transmits the Heart Sutra to Xuanzang.
Key Quote from the Heart Sutra (Xuanzang’s Translation)
“Form does not differ from emptiness;
Emptiness does not differ from form.
Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.
Sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this.”
According to legend, Xuanzang studied Buddhism in Sichuan. One day, he encountered a gravely ill man on the road. He brought the man to his temple, cared for him, and nursed him back to health. After recovering, the man, in gratitude, gifted Xuanzang a Sanskrit copy of the Heart Sutra. Later, Xuanzang embarked on his journey to India to retrieve Buddhist scriptures. Upon returning to China, he translated numerous Buddhist texts, including the Heart Sutra.
The Heart Sutra is widely celebrated in China. There are as many as 14 different Chinese translations of the sutra, with seven being the most common. However, the version translated by Xuanzang during the Tang Dynasty remains the most renowned, concise, and widely circulated. The Heart Sutra quoted in the iconic novel Journey to the West is precisely Xuanzang’s translation. Over the centuries, the sutra has been revered by calligraphers, and in daily life, people often recite or transcribe this sacred text as a spiritual practice.
Xuanzang’s relationship with the Heart Sutra bridges history and legend. Historically, his translation shaped East Asian Buddhism’s philosophical landscape. Mythologically, it symbolizes the power of faith and wisdom to overcome adversity—a theme echoed in Journey to the West, where the sutra aids both Xuanzang and Sun Wukong in their quest. This duality cements the Heart Sutra as both a spiritual gem and a cultural icon.
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