This book focuses on the life of Daoxuan as revealed by the monk himself and from accounts penned down by others. More importantly, it sets out to see why this monk is so respected in the field of vinaya. It is also one of the key tasks of this study to explore why Daoxuan was the first Chinese monk ever to define hufa (to protect the Dharma) as an ideal that monks should aspire. Through this study, we see Daoxuan emerge from the sources as a diligent student, a tireless traveller, a Mahayana-aspired vinaya master, a prolific writer, and an indefatigable hufa monk.

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