Xuanzang, the well known Chinese scholar, traveller, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the Harsha period, stated that Harsha was of a Kanojia caste.[3][4][5][6][7][8] According to Alexander Cunningham, Xuanzang might have mistaken the Vaisa for Bais Rajputs clan.[5] though, Thomas Watters has pointed out this is most unlikely as Xuanzang, "had ample opportunities for learning the antecedents of the royal family, and he must have had some ground for his assertion, moreover, Xuanzang had an expert knowledge of Sanskrit and the caste system, which he discusses, in some detail in his book. He mentions that rulers traditionally belonged to the Kshatriya caste and his specific mention that Harsha was a feishe was probably because this was an uncommon occurrence."[7][8][9] However, Banabhatta clarifies that the Bais Rajput descent must have been correct considering the Harshacarita the author Bâna never stated his background to be strangely non Kshatriya. Harsha's Royal descent being known (rulers of Sthanvisvara, modern Thanesar) and his sister being married into prominent Kshatriya families of Maukharis. (a highly contentious occurrence, had Harsha's family not been of royal or Kshatriya descent). Moreover, upon his formal coronation ceremony, Harsha took the title Rajputra.