The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?: [2013]

2013, PYQs

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery.
As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

Hiuen Tsang mentions that while law and order were maintained in general, certain areas were prone to robbery, especially in regions with dense forests or less governance.

Statements 2 and 3 are correct

Ordeals were common in ancient India as a method to determine guilt or innocence, and they included trials by fire, water, and poison, which Hiuen Tsang observed and recorded in his accounts.
Hiuen Tsang noted that traders were subject to various duties, including those collected at ferries and barrier stations, as part of the administrative and revenue system of the time.

Additional Information

Hiuen Tsang was a Chinese traveller, Buddhist scholar monk and translator. He came to India through the Silk Route between 629 and 644 AD during the reign of Harshavardhana.
He was also known as Xuanzang and the Prince of Pilgrims. From his famous book Si-Yu-Ki: Buddhist Record of the Western World”, many details of administrative, political, religious, economic and social conditions during those days in India can be found.
However, the descriptions were biased so as to glorify Buddhism and praise King Harshavardhana.

A detailed infographic categorizes foreign accounts of India into Ancient, Medieval, and Colonial periods, highlighting notable travelers and their contributions. It includes traveler names, origins, centuries, and key insights, such as trade descriptions, historical documentation, and cultural observations.