Page images
PDF
EPUB

L0N(i:KIE-L0 (langala).

This country ?9 is several thousand li from east to west and from north to south. The capital is about 30 li round. It is named Su-nu-li-clii-f a-lo (SiinurIsvara?).90 The soil is rich and fertile, and yields abundant harvests. The climate and the manners of the people are like those o-f 'O-tin-p'o-chi-lo. The population is dense. It possesses abundance of precious gems and stones. It borders on tire ocean. It is on the route to the kingdom of the western women.91 It has no chief ruler. The people occupy a long valley, and are not dependent on one another. They are under the government of Persia; The letters are much the same as those of India: their language is a little different. There are believers and heretics living together amongst them. There are some hundred sanghdrdmas, and perhaps 6000 priests, who study the teaching of both the Little and Great Vehicle. There are several hundred Deva temples. The heretics called P&supatas are exceedingly numerous. In the city is a temple to Mahesvara-Desva: it is richly adorned and sculptured. The P&iupata heretics here offer their religious worship.

Prom this going north-west, we come to the kingdom of Po-la-sse (Persia).

Po-la-sse (persia).

This kingdom 92 is several mvriad of lis in circuit. Its chief town, called Su-la-sa-t'ang-na (Surasthana), is about 40 li in circuit. The valleys are extensive, and so the climate differs in character, but in general it is warm.

89 General Cunningham thinks 90 Cunningham suggests Sambhu

this country may represent Lako- risvara as the restoration of this

rian or Lakura, the name of a great name (ibid., loc. cit.)

ruined city which Masson found be- 1,1 See p. 240, ante.

tween Khozdar and Kilat, about 92 This country does not belong

2000 li to the north-west of Kotesar to India (Ch. Ed.) Hiuen Tsiang

in Kachh (Anc. Geog. of India, p. did not visit it personally; he writes

311). The Chinese symbols might from report, be restored to Longhir,

They draw the water up to irrigate the fields. The people are rich and affluent. The country produces gold, silver, copper, rock-crystal (sphdtika), rare pearls, and various precious substances. Their artists know how to weave fine brocaded silks, woollen stuffs, carpets, and so on. They have many shen horses and camels. In commerce they use large silver pieces. They are by nature violent and impulsive, and in their behaviour they practise neither decorum nor justice. Their writing and their language are different from other countries. They care not for learning, but give themselves entirely to works of art. All that they make the neighbouring countries value very much. Their marriage-customs are merely promiscuous intercourse. When dead their corpses are mostly abandoned. In stature they are tall: they tie up their hair (arrange their head-dress) and go uncovered. Their robes are either of skin, or wool, or felt, or figured silk. Each family is subject to a tax of four pieces of silver per man. The Deiva temples are very numerous. Dinava9? (Ti-na-po) is principally worshipped by the heretics. There are two or three sanghdrdmas, with several hundred priests, who principally study the teaching- of the Little Vehicle according to the Sarvastavadin school. The pdtra of Sakya Buddha is in this (country), in the king's palace.94

On the eastern frontiers of the country is the town of Ho-mo (Ormus ?). The city inside is- not great, but the external walls are in circuit about 60 li Or so. The people who inhabit it are all very rich. To the northwest this country borders on the kingdom of Fo-lin,95

83 Julien restores this name, and a community of priests in Per

doubtfully, to Dinabha. Dinava, or sia at the time of Hiuen Tsiang.

Dinapa, however, may be a contrac- As they belonged to the school of

tion for Dinapa(ti), "the lord of the the Little "Vehicle, it is probable

day," or "the sun." they had been established there from

1,4 For the wanderings of the an early date.

pdtra of Buddha, see IVhian, chap. 95 Fo-lin (tt6\u>) is generally sup

xxxis. It is interesting to know posed to represent the Byzantine

that there were Buddhist temples Empire.

which resembles the kingdom of Persia in point of soil, and manners, and customs; but they differ in point of language and appearance of the inhabitants. These also possess a quantity of valuable gems, and are very rich.

To the south-west of Fo-lin, in an island of the sea, is the kingdom of the western women :96 here there are only women, with no men; they possess a large quantity of gems and precious stones, which they exchange in Fo-lin. Therefore the king of Fo-lin sends certain men to live with them for a time. If they should have male children, they are not allowed to bring them up.

On leaving the kingdom of O-tin-p'o-chi-lo, and going north 700 li or so, we come to the country of Pi-to-shilo.

Pl-TO-SHI-LO (PlTASILi).

This kingdom is about 3000 li round; the capital is some 20 li in circuit. The population is dense. They have no chief ruler, but they depend on the country of Sin-tu. The soil is salt and sandy; the country is subject to a cold tempestuous wind. A great quantity of beans and wheat is grown. Flowers and fruits are scarce. The manners of the people are fierce and rough. Their language slightly differs from that of Mid-India. They do not love learning, but as far as they know they have a sincere faith. There are some fifty scmgJidrdrna$ with about 3000 priests; they study the Little Vehicle according to the Sammatiya school. There are twenty D6va temples, frequented mostly by the heretics called Paiupatas.

To the north of the city 15 or 16 li, in the middle of a great forest, is a stUpct several hundred feet high, built by A66ka-raja. It contains relics which from time

96 For some references to the is- and Colonel Yule's note (vol. ii. p. land or kingdom of the western 339). women, see Marco Polo, chap, xxxi.,

to time emit a bright light. It was "here that Tathagataj when in old time he was a Eishi, was subjected to the cruelty of the king.

Not far east from this is an old sanghdrdvia. This was built by the great Arhat, the great Katvayana. . By the side of it are traces where the four Buddhas of the past age sat down and walked for exercise. They have erected a stiXpa to denote the spot. '-;'

Going north-east from this 300 li or so, we come to the country of 'O-f an-ch'a. ,

'o-ian-ch'a (avanda ?).

This kingdom is 2400 or 2500 li in circuit; the capital is about 20 li. There is no chief ruler, but the country is subject to Sin-tu. The soil is fit for the cultivation of grain, and abounds in beans and wheat; it produces but few flowers or fruits; the woods are thin. . The climate is "windy and cold; the disposition of the men is fierce and impulsive. Their language is simple and uncultivated. They do not value learning, but they are earnest and sincere believers in "the three gems." There are abowt twenty safighdrdmas, with some 2000 priests; they mostly study the Little Vehicle according to the Sammatiya school. There are some five Deva temples, frequented by the heretics called Pasupatas.

To the north-east of the city, not a great distance, in the middle of a great bamboo forest is a saiighdrdma mostly in ruins. Here Tathagata gave permission to the Bhikshus to wear Kih-fu-to (boots).97 By the side of it is a st4,pa built by A£6ka-raja. Although the foundadations have sunk into the earth, yet the remains are some hundred feet high. In a vihdra by the side of the stripa is a blue-stone standing figure of Buddha. On

97 There are some remarks made vol. xvii. p. 35)- I* would seem

about permission to wear boots or from these records that thi3 coun

shoes with thick linings in the try of Avanda corresponded with

Mahdvagga, varga 13, § 6 (?. B. K, Avanti.

sacred days (fast-days) it spreads abroad a divine light. .

To the south 80b paces or so, in a forest, is a st4pa which was built by As"6ka-raja. Tathagata," in time gone by, stopping here, finding it cold in the night, covered; himself with his three. garments: on the morning following he permitted the Bhikshus to wear wadded garments. In this wood is a place where Buddha walked for exercise. There are also a number of sMpas placed opposite one another, where the four Buddhas of the •past age sat. In this stUpa are relics of Buddha's hair and nails. On holy days they emit a miraculous light.

Going from this north-east 900 li or so, we come to the country of Fa-la-na.

Fa-la-na (varana).98

This kingdom is about 4000 li in circuit, and the chief town* about 20 li. The population is dense. The kingdom is subject to Kapis'a. The chief portion of the country consists of mountains and forests. It is regularly cultivated. The climate is rather cold. The manners of the people are rough and fierce. They are persevering in their habits, but their purposes are low. Their language is somewhat like that of Mid-India. Some of them believe in Buddha, others not. They do not care about literature or the arts. There are some tens of saiighdrdmas, but they are in ruins. There are about 300 priests, who btudy the Great Vehicle. There are about five Deva temples, frequented mostly by Pa.supata heretics.

Not far to the south of the city is an old saiighAr&ma. Here Tathagata in old days preached, exhibiting the profit and delight of his doctrine, and opening the mind

98 Pamni has a country called group Suvastavadi; also in the group "Varnu (iv. 2, 103; iv. 3, 93), from Kachchhadi, in which Gandhara also a river of the same name, in the is included.

« PreviousContinue »