學術界對西行求法僧人的研究雖然也有一些綜合性的研究，但是更多的是對那些研究材料較多、求法活動影響較大的求法高僧的個案研究，個案研究雖然容易深入，但是其局限性也是很明顯的。對於通過陸路，即絲綢之路，到西域、天竺尋求佛法的僧人的綜合研究，迄今尚未見到。本文試圖利用文獻學的方法，借助傳世的漢文文獻，結合前人的研究成果，對三到五世紀之間經由陸路西行求法的僧人做綜合性的研究，考證這些求法僧人的生平事蹟和求法活動，梳理他們帶回的佛教經典和經典的翻譯情況，探討這些僧人西行求法的動機和他們的求法活動所產生的影響。在吸收前人的研究成果的基礎上，本文對每一位求法僧人的生卒年、籍貫、西行時間、主要事蹟等進行了考證，對於前人有爭議的問題，分析不同的觀點，並得出自己的看法。從歷代經錄、佛經的譯經記等文獻中，梳理出了求法僧人從域外帶回的經典，並考證了這些經典的翻譯時間、地點、譯者等情況。這一時期僧人西行求法的動機為尋求經典、瞻仰佛跡、訪求名師、躬行懺悔和遊方而學。這一時期的西行求法活動不僅帶來了大量的佛教經典，豐富了漢地的佛教理論，也產生了一批精通梵漢雙語的本土譯家，促進了佛典的翻譯，同時也深化了中外的文化交流。 Although there are some comprehensive studies of westbound Buddhist monks in academic circles, but there are more case studies of eminent monks which have more study materials and the impact of activities is greater. The limitation of Case studies is very obvious, although it’s easy to be in-depth. The comprehensive studies of westbound Buddhist monks who went by land, that is, the Silk Road, to Western Regions and Sindhu, has not yet been seen. With the aid of the Chinese historical documents handed down from ancient times, on the basis of previous research results, this article attempts to use philological method, do some comprehensive studies of the westbound Buddhist monks overland between three to five centuries, do textual research on their life story and activities, comb the Buddhist scriptures they brought back and the translation situation of the Buddhist scriptures, and discuss their westbound motivation as well as the impact of their activities.On the basis of previous research results, in this paper, the author does textual research about birth and death year, native place, westbound time, main deeds of westbound Buddhist monks. For the previous controversial issue, analyzes the different point of view, and draws views of his own. The author of this paper teases out the Buddhist scriptures brought back by these westbound Buddhist monks from Buddhist directory of all times and the records of Buddhist scripture translation, does textual research about time, place, translator of the Buddhist scripture translation. The motivation of the westbound Buddhist monks in this period is seeking for Buddhist scripture, paying tribute to relics of the Buddha, looking for top teachers, repenting personally, and traveling to learn. The westbound activities of this period not only brought about a lot of Buddhist scriptures, but also enriched the Buddhist theory of the Han, produced a number of good Sanskrit Han bilingual native translator, promoted the translation of Buddhist scriptures, and deepened the Sino-foreign cultural exchanges.
