He was fortunate enough, through the dread power of the three Honoured Ones,( 15) to receive help and protection in his perils; and therefore he wrote out an account of his experiences, that worthy readers might share with him in what he had heard and said.( 15) It was in the year Keah-yin,( 16) the twelfth year of the period E-he of the (Eastern) Tsin dynasty, the year-star being in Virgo-Libra, in the summer, at the close of the period of retreat, that I met the devotee Fa-Hsien.

On his arrival I lodged him with myself in the winter study,( 17) and there, in our meetings for conversation, I asked him again and again about his travels.

The man was modest and complaisant, and answered readily according to the truth.

I thereupon advised him to enter into details where he had at first only given a summary, and he proceeded to relate all things in order from the beginning to the end.

He said himself, "When I look back on what I have gone through, my heart is involuntarily moved, and the perspiration flows forth.
That I encountered danger and trod the most perilous places, without thinking of or sparing myself, was because I had a definite aim, and thought of nothing but to do my best in my simplicity and straightforwardness.