Cheng 竀 or Kui 窺: A Study of Master Cheng Emerging from the Shadow of the Renowned Yogācāra Master Kuiji 窺基 (632–682)

The name “Kuiji 窺基”, usually attributed to the famous monk Master Ci’en慈恩法師 in the Tang Dynasty, has long been a subject of scholarly debate. Textual and manuscript evidence, however, reveals that “Kuiji” is not a single figure but a conflation of two distinct disciples of Xuanzang 玄奘: Master Cheng 竀 and Master Ji 基. During 661–664 CE, the monk Cheng, affiliated with Great Ci’en Monastery 大慈恩寺, served as a core member of Xuanzang’s translation workshop, as well as a trusted assistant who submitted memorials on Xuanzang’s behalf. Early records state that Xuanzang instructed his disciple(s) “Cheng” or “Cheng and Ji” to present memorials to the throne. However, because the character “Cheng 竀” was uncommon and visually similar to “Kui 窺”, “Cheng and Ji” was misidentified as a composite name “Kuiji” roughly since the late Tang period. This study not only traces the origin of the name “Kuiji” but also recovers the important yet overlooked figure of Master Cheng 竀法師, thereby making a crucial correction to our understanding of Xuanzang’s disciples.