Footsteps of a Buddhist monk
About country
The international links between east and west along the Great Silk Road go way back in history. This ancient caravan route helped to develop both trade and cultural exchanges and a significant part of this story includes the transmission of Buddhist teachings along this route.
Buddhism was brought to Uzbekistan from India at the beginning of the 1st century A.D. via the silk roads enroute to China, Korea and Japan. Many ancient temples and archaeological discoveries demonstrate the spread of Buddhism in this region. Buddhist monuments are found in the southern part of Uzbekistan and eastern Turkestan.
In 629-645 A.D. the Chinese pilgrim, a Buddhist monk by the name of Xuan Zang (Sanzoh Houshi), passed through Central Asia on his way to India. It was during this time that diplomatic, trade, cultural and spiritual relations between China and Central Asia were at their peak. This Buddhist pilgrim recorded all this information in his book Da Ту an Si Yun Tzi (Notes About Traveling Through the Western Territory During the Rule of the Great Tyan). Xuan Zang wrote about the prosperity of the Sogdian state and its capital city, Samarkand. He also mentioned Chach (Tashkent), the Fergana Valley, Ustrushan, Kesh and Toharistan (Bactria).
Buddhist monuments from the time of Xuan Zang's travels through Uzbekistan, were discovered by archaeologists in the Ayrtam district on the bank of the Amu-Darya (Oxus) River. The scientist, M. Masson, who investigated this area in 1932, unearthed a stone tablet picturing musicians and garland-bearers, and some of the finest Buddhist sculptures. In 1936-38, more Buddhist monuments mentioned by Xuan Zang, were discovered in Kara Tepa, 18 kilometres north of the ancient city Termez. Another Buddhist complex was discovered by the archaeologist, L.Albaum, at Fayaz Tepa. In 1967, a Buddhist sanctuary was discovered near the village of Dalvarzin Tepa, 120 kilometres from Termez. In 1983, another Buddhist temple was found in the same area.
Hidden treasures and gold were discovered amongst the Dalvarzin diggings in 1972. About 100 articles of gold including pendants, large bracelets, rings and other unfinished trinkets in a ceramic vessel were unearthed and have been classified as genuine. This discovery, weighing 36 kg, was dated back to the latter part of the 2nd century AD.
Understandably, Dalvarzin Tepa is a popular destination for scientists and a joint archaeological expedition led by the Uzbek Institute for Art Sciences and the Japanese Institute for the Silk Road, have a permanent base there now. The expedition governing body represented by famous archeologist from Uzbekistan, Bakhodir Turgunov and Professor Kato Kuizo from Japan, believe that this ancient settlement site will continue to reveal invaluable archaeological finds.
These Buddhist discoveries in the south of Uzbekistan attract many admirers from Japan, China and South Korea who visit Uzbekistan wishing to trace the footsteps of Xuan Zang. Their hearts desires are fulfilled during these travels when the guides share the history and show them the ancient community sites. In fact, the travellers discover pleasures and wonders in this interesting area of Uzbekistan, that are beyond their expectations.