Who is the author of 'Si-yu-ki' (Records of the Western World)?

"Si-yu-ki" ("Records of the Western World" or "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions") is the travel account written by the Chinese Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) after his journey to India.

About Hiuen Tsang's journey:

He left China in 629 CE and travelled across Central Asia to India, returning to China in 645 CE.

He came to India to study Buddhism and collect Buddhist texts. He took back hundreds of manuscripts, which he later translated into Chinese.

He spent several years at Nalanda University, where he studied under the great teacher Shilabhadra.

He visited the court of King Harshavardhana of Kannauj and attended the great religious assembly at Kannauj (643 CE) and the "Mahamoksha Parishad" at Prayag (Prayagraj), where Harsha gave away his wealth.

He described Indian cities, people, customs, education, Buddhism and Harsha's administration in detail.

He is called the "Prince of Pilgrims". His life story was written by his disciple Hui Li.

His journey later inspired the famous Chinese novel "Journey to the West".

Other foreign travellers to India and their accounts:

• Megasthenes (Greek): "Indica", about Chandragupta Maurya's India (4th-3rd century BCE).
• Fa-Hien (Faxian): "Fo-kwo-ki" ("A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms"); visited during the reign of Chandragupta II (about 399-414 CE).
• I-Tsing (Yijing): visited India in the late 7th century; studied at Nalanda; wrote about Buddhist practices.
• Al-Biruni: "Kitab-ul-Hind" (11th century), during Mahmud of Ghazni's time.
• Marco Polo (Italy): visited south India in the late 13th century.
• Ibn Battuta (Morocco): "Rihla"; visited during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Fa-Hien wrote "Fo-kwo-ki" during Chandragupta II's reign.
• ✗I-Tsing visited India in the late 7th century.
• ✗Megasthenes wrote "Indica".