Samuel Beal (1825-89) was an Oriental scholar, and the first Englishman to translate direct from the Chinese the early records of Buddhism, thus throwing light upon Indian history. He was born at Davenport and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1847. after some time had passed, he became a chaplain in the Royal Navy. He was on the Sybile during the China War of 1856-58. The Orient (orient literally means sunrise east) is a term traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle and Far Eastern countries. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Official language None; English is de facto Capital London Capitals coordinates 51° 30 N, 0° 10 W Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831... Buddhism (Pāli Buddhadhamma or Sanskrit Buddhadharma) is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in the 5th century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the ancient Indian sub-continent in the five centuries following his death, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and... Full name The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Motto Virtus vera nobilitas Virtue is true Nobility Named after The Holy Trinity Previous names Kings Hall and Michaelhouse (until merged in 1546) Established 1546 Sister College(s) Christ Church Master The Lord Rees of Ludlow Location Trinity Street... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A chaplain is typically a member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church; lay chaplains are also found in some settings such as universities. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

In 1857 he printed for private circulation a pamphlet showing that the Tycoon of Yedo (i.e. Tokugawa Shogun of Edo), with whom foreigners had made treaties, was not the real Emperor of Japan. He retired from the navy in 1877. His reputation was established by his series of works which traced the travels of the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims in India from the fifth to the seventh century, A. D., and by his books on Buddhism, which have become classics. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Taikun (大君) is a Japanese word of Chinese origin meaning Great Lord/prince or Supreme Commander. While almost archaic today, in the Edo Period the word was used as a title designating high commanders of foreign military forces, analogous to the Shogun of Japan. ... In Japanese history, a shogun (将軍 shōgun) was the practical ruler of Japan for most of the time from 1192 to the Meiji Era beginning in 1868. ... His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan Imperial Seal of Japan The Emperor (天皇 tennō, literally heavenly sovereign) is a constitutionally-recognized symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Among his works are:

• The Travels of Sung-Yun and Fa-Hien (1869)
• The Catena of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese (1872)
• The Romantic Legend of Buddha (1876)
• Texts from the Buddhist Canon, Dhammapada (1878)
• Buddhism in China (1884)
• Si-Yu-Ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World, by Hiuen Tsiang. 2 vols. Translated by Samuel Beal. London. 1884. Reprint: Delhi. Oriental Books Reprint Corporation. 1969. (Includes The Travels of Sung-Yun and Fa-Hien).
• The Life of Hiuen-Tsiang. Translated from the Chinese of Shaman Hwui Li by Samuel Beal. London. 1911. Reprint Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi. 1973.

External links and references

• Xuanzang's Record of the Western Regions Book 1 from Buddhist Records of the Western World, by Hiuen Tsiang (Xuanzang)