WRITER

Faxian

340 - 418

Photo of Faxian

Icon of person Faxian

Faxian (337–c. 422 CE), formerly romanized as Fa-hien and Fa-hsien, was a Chinese Buddhist monk and translator who traveled on foot from Jin China to medieval India to acquire Buddhist scriptures. His birth name was Gong Sehi. Starting his journey about age 60, he traveled west along the overland Silk Road, visiting Buddhist sites in Central, South, and Southeast Asia. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Faxian has received more than 925,309 page views. His biography is available in 41 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 39 in 2019). Faxian is the 566th most popular writer (down from 558th in 2019), the 150th most popular biography from China (down from 147th in 2019) and the 11th most popular Chinese Writer.

The most famous thing faxian is famous for is the discovery of the Dunhuang caves.

Memorability Metrics

  • 930k

    Page Views (PV)

  • 70.85

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 41

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 5.91

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 3.12

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Among WRITERS

Among writers, Faxian ranks 566 out of 7,302. Before him are Ivan Bunin, Georges Perec, Ausonius, Marina Tsvetaeva, Sidney Sheldon, and A. A. Milne. After him are Romain Gary, William S. Burroughs, Al-Zamakhshari, Harry Martinson, Gaius Julius Hyginus, and Jaroslav Seifert.

Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 340, Faxian ranks 4. Before him are Theodosius I, Ambrose, and Pope Anastasius I. After him are Priscillian, Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, and Arbogast. Among people deceased in 418, Faxian ranks 2. Before him is Pope Zosimus. After him are Wallia, and Attaces.

Others Born in 340

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Others Deceased in 418

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  • Photo of Pope Zosimus

    Pope Zosimus

    RELIGIOUS FIGURE

    400 - 418

    HPI: 73.90

    Rank: 1

  • Photo of Faxian

    Faxian

    WRITER

    340 - 418

    HPI: 70.85

    Rank: 2

  • Photo of Wallia

    Wallia

    POLITICIAN

    385 - 418

    HPI: 66.91

    Rank: 3

  • Photo of Attaces

    Attaces

    MILITARY PERSONNEL

    350 - 418

    HPI: 59.49

    Rank: 4

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In China

Among people born in China, Faxian ranks 150 out of 1,610. Before him are Tang of Shang (-1601), Cao Rui (205), Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (656), Sun Ce (175), Zhengde Emperor (1491), and Emperor Renzong of Song (1010). After him are Han Xin (-231), Li Xiannian (1909), Huo Yuanjia (1868), Emperor Ruizong of Tang (662), Emperor Wen of Han (-202), and Khorloogiin Choibalsan (1895).

Others born in China

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Among WRITERS In China

Among writers born in China, Faxian ranks 11. Before him are Qu Yuan (-343), Luo Guanzhong (1330), Wu Cheng'en (1500), Kumārajīva (343), Bai Juyi (772), and Mo Yan (1955). After him are Su Shi (1037), Wang Wei (699), Kang Youwei (1858), Cao Xueqin (1724), Tao Yuanming (365), and Jin Yong (1924).

Chinese born Writers

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