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AnonymousThis is a movie about the journey of famous Chinese monk, Xuanzang, who is perhaps the most important historical figure in introducing Buddhism to China. It is also this quest to India that inspired one of the Chinese classic literature, Journey to the West. The main character is played by Huang Xiaoming, one of the premier actors in China today.
The movie depicted the hardships that Xuanzang had to endured and the many dangers he had encountered in traveling from China to India. He also faced great temptations along the way, may it be fame, wealth, or lust. In the end, he made it to India and spend more than a decade in Nalanda monastery perfecting his knowledge of Buddhism and Sanskrit, the original language of in which Buddhism was born. Despite being a foreigner, he was held in high prestige and was honored by the then famous Indian king, Harsha. Xuanzang could have continued to live a life of great comfort in India, but chose to come back to China as he promised when he set out on his quest years ago.
When he came back to China, he was offered a ministerial post by the Tang emperor, who himself was a devoted Buddist. But Xuanzang declined the offer and chose instead to live in seclusion and devoted the rest of his life in the translation of the Buddhist scripts that he had brought back from India.
From a movie viewer's point of view, the movies lacks the whistles and bells the one has to associated with modern movies. It mainly focus on one single character and consist of many silent scenes in which the main characters was in deep contemplations. In many ways, it reminds me of the movie Castaway staring Tom Hank in which a survivor of a shipwreck found himself alone on a island. The movie, however, makes up what it lacks in glamours with meditative philosophical substances. Those who are interested in seeking the Truth will find this movie rewarding. The only catch is: There is no English subtitles version on Youtube.