Symposium to mark the 1,600th anniversary of Ven Fa-Xian's pilgrimage to Sri Lanka

by Ven. Chuan Yin

In time of a golden breeze and a coming Mid-Autumn Day, A symposium in memory of 1600th Anniversary of Ven. Fa-xian's pilgrimage to Sri Lanka is grandly held in here. I hereby represent the Buddhist Association of China to extend warm welcome and sincere greetings to venerables, scholars and friends from both China and Sri Lanka for the symposium; as well as warm congratulations to the opening for the assembly.

The friendly communication between China and Sri Lanka enjoys a deep root and long stream in history. There are great contributions by Buddhists of the both countries for the establishment and development in friendship between two nations and peoples. In accordance to Chinese history, there are records in Vol.54 of Jin book and Liang Book which said, when the King of Singhaladvipa heard that the Emperor Xiaowu in Eastern Jin Dynasty (373-396) believe in Buddhism, He sent the monk named Dharma to bring a Jade Buddha Statue in height of four chi and two cun came to the capital of Jin(Nanjing) through 10 years voyage on ocean. From that, the friendly relations among China and Sri Lanka were opened in the curtain of history. It is in the Eastern Jin Dynasty that the eminent Monk Rev. Fa-Xian paid a pilgrimage to both India and Sri Lanka for Buddha Dharma as he felt that Vinaya book was not completely translated into Chinese at that time.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Karunatilaka Amunugama, Prof. Bhante Madawala Seelavimala Thera, Rev. Chuan Yin, President of All China Buddhist Association addressing the symposium

At the 6th year of Yixi in Eastern Jin dynasty (410), Ven Fa-xian came to Singhaladvipa (Presently Sri Lanka from India and paid his pilgrimage to Abhayagiri Vihara, Buddha Tooth Relic Vihara and Chaitya Vihara as well as Maha -Vihara in the capital of Anuradhapura.

He took his pilgrimage footprints in there, left a record of the Dharma assembly to enshrine the Buddha tooth relic and cremation of an Arhat in Maha -Vihara.

He collected many Buddhist sutras in Sanskrit such a s Mahisasakakavinaya, Dirghagama Sutra, Samyktaga Sutra etc., and returned to China in the year of 412. Both Ven. Dharma and Ven. Fa-Xian are great pioneers to open the Buddhist culture communication and people's friendship among china and Sri Lanka. The Records of Buddhist Kingdoms by Ven. Fa-xian, is the most important historical document for people in nowadays to study the sino-Sri lanka Buddhist Exchanges in past times. Ven. Fa-xian is regarded up to now to make great contributions for the friendship between China and Sri Lanka. Rev. Zhao Pu-Chu, the former president of the Buddhist Association of China even said, the main merit of Ven.Fa-xian was that he had eternally left good impression of China in minds of people of Sri Lanka, while good impression of Sri Lanka in minds of Chinese people.

He played great function to push forwards the friendly exchanges among Buddhists and cultural communication among nations of both China and Sri Lanka even in a few centuries later.

It is eminent Buddhist monks such as Ven. Fa-Xian and Ven. Dharma who promoted the Buddhist friendship in development and Buddhist belief in prosperity. Since the founding of People's Republic of China, there were many new branches grown up in the Buddhist friendship tree by China and Sri Lanka.

The Buddha Statue in Samadhi gesture by H.E. President of your noble country, as precious gift to China is enshrined in Beijing Lingguang Monastery.

It is a great new branch, We regard. The great assembly herein today will be one more splendid blossom among the traditional friendship tree by both China and Sri Lanka we Believe.

We treasured very much on this wonderful causes and conditions, let's learn from ancestors' spirit for Dharma in diligence. We wish that the friendship tree by both Buddhist circles and peoples of two countries will be flourishing and evergreen under the watering of Buddhist wisdom and compassion.

I was very honoured to visit Sri Lanka a few years ago. I was impressed by the audience with the President and the Prime Minister of your noble country, as well as view of the grand occasions of the festival in Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. There is a poem by myself to record the unforgettable beautiful impressions during my visit to Sri Lanka as follows:

A flight to the Buddhist Kingdom in south

In arrival after Passing over the ocean in one night

Whatever you see are colourful flowers

Whoever you met are smiley in face

Happy tones and dances to be full of long street

Songs from happy mind applaud in deep night

The holy elephant in kind and gentle manner

A holy vehicle for the pagoda of Buddha Tooth Relic..

(Excepts from the opening speech by Most. Ven. Chuan Yin, President of the Buddhist Association of China at the Symposium held in association with the Sri Lanka Embassy in China and the Buddhist Association of China at the Lingguang Temple)