[Buddha-l] In the footsteps of Xuan Zhang

[Alberto Todeschini]

Dear List,

On a similar topic to the one discussed in this thread on Xuan Xhang, I 
have another question: did Japanese Buddhists go to India in pre-modern 
times? I suppose my question can be split into two:

- did Japanese Buddhists try to go to India?
- did they make it all the way?

I remember reading that Kuukai is meant to have met an Indian teacher in 
Nara, though the book where I read this was more hagiographical than 
scholarly, so I was wondering if Japanese Buddhists undertook the 
reverse journey.

Thanks in advance,

Alberto Todeschini