Fa-Xian travelled around 400, when Prakrit was the Language of the people and Buddhism was flourishing. Buddhism was declining and Hinduism was rising. “The travel records of many Chinese Buddhists pilgrims record that Gandhara was going through a transformation during these centuries. “About the middle of the fifth century, Gandhara was conquered by groups of people often identified as the Huns or Hephthalites, thus bringing this major period of Buddhist patronage to a close.” Kurt Behrendt, Department of Asian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art ( ) Are you criticizing the historical fact that the White Huns or Hephthalites destroyed Gandharan monasteries and effectively put an end to Gandharan civilization? No matter which version of history you read, it is clear that Gandharan civilization started declining after the Hepthalite invasion: I agree that the politics of religion and invasion is complicated, but since I was writing a brochure, not a thesis, I had to keep it simple yet accurate, and stick to the theme of the brochure, which was Buddhist Gandhara Art & Civilization.īut let me try to understand. Thanks for going through the brochure, though I’m not sure I fully understand your criticism of it.
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