to order a withdrawal from Goguryeo. By topic Religion Xuanzang, Chinese Buddhist monk, returns to China after a 16-year pilgrimage to India. He is greeted with much honor by Emperor Taizong. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda at Ci'en Temple, Xi'an (Shanxi) is first erected during the Tang dynasty (approximate date). Births Æthelred, king of Mercia (approximate date) Ecgfrith, king of Northumbria (approximate date) Jitō, empress of Japan (d. 703) John of Damascus, Syrian church father (or 676) Mujahid ibn Jabr, Arabic scholar (or 642) Yazid I, Muslim Caliph (d. 683) Deaths April 26 – Richarius, Frankish hermit and monk July 10 – Soga no Iruka, statesman of Japan October 21 – Zhenzhu Khan, khan of Xueyantuo unknown dates Al-Khansa, Arabic poet (b. 575) Cen Wenben, chancellor and editor of the Book of Zhou (b. 595) Li Chengqian, crown prince of the Tang Dynasty Soga no Emishi, statesman of Japan (b. 587) Yan Shigu, Chinese author of the Tang Dynasty (b. 581) References Sources