Xuanzang
c. 602 – 664 · 62 years · Chang'an · Asia
A monk who spent 17 years travelling through Central Asia and India, bringing hundreds of Buddhist texts back to China.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 7th century
Portrait: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Contemporaries around the world
Middle East
- Muhammad — prophet and founder of Islam, 32 years older
- Ali ibn Abi Talib — fourth Rashidun caliph, 2 years older
Asia
- Wu Zetian — empress of China, 22 years younger
- Emperor Taizong of Tang — emperor of the Tang dynasty, 4 years older
- Prince Shōtoku — regent of Japan, 28 years older
Americas
- Pakal the Great — Maya ruler of Palenque, 1 year younger
The world in their lifetime
- 605–610 Grand Canal of China — aged 3, Asia
- 618 Founding of the Tang dynasty — aged 16, Asia
- 622 Hijra: Muhammad's migration to Medina — aged 20, Middle East
- 628 Brahmagupta and the rules of zero — aged 26, Asia
- 629–645 Xuanzang's journey to the West — aged 27, Asia
- 636 Battle of the Yarmuk — aged 34, Middle East
- 652 The Baqt treaty with Nubia — aged 50, Africa