A Note on a remark of Yuan Chwang
Summary
Tripathi addresses a statement by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Yuan Chwang) concerning a supposed six‑year reign of a certain Indian king. Previous historians have interpreted Xuanzang’s remark to refer to Harṣavardhana, leading to chronological confusion. Tripathi re‑examines the Chinese sources and cross‑checks them with Indian inscriptions. He argues that Xuanzang actually referred to the reign of Śrīharṣa of Malwa, a minor ruler, and that translators misread Chinese numerals. The article clarifies the timeline of early seventh‑century Indian rulers and underscores the need for philological accuracy when using Chinese travel accounts. Tripathi also explores the political circumstances of the period, including alliances and conflicts among the Maukhari, Gāhaḍavāla, and Chalukya powers.
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Conclusion
Tripathi concludes that careful textual analysis can resolve chronological puzzles. His reassessment of Xuanzang’s remark removes an anomaly in the accepted chronology of north Indian kings and demonstrates the value of correlating Chinese accounts with indigenous evidence.