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Fragmented manuscripts from the Buddhist Records of the Western World are preserved at the Turpan Museum in Xinjiang, offering a glimpse into a historic journey and the longstanding ties between China and India.

Discovered in 1981 at a cave temple in Turpan, the fragment measures just 16.5 by 19.5 centimeters, with nearly one-third of the scroll missing. The 10 remaining lines of elegant script date to between 647 and 651 AD. Of all the known versions of the records, this one is considered the earliest surviving copy.

The fragment recounts the journey of Tang monk Xuanzang, who traveled along the Silk Road to India in search of Buddhist scriptures. Though faded by time, the delicate manuscript reflects a profound exchange between the two civilizations, spanning philosophy, art and science, as well as religion.

More than a historical relic, it serves as a living symbol of the deep historical and cultural ties that continue to bind China and India, bridging two ancient civilizations across the centuries.

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Ancient manuscript bears witness to China-India civilization ties