a record of buddhistic kingdoms(佛都记录)-第38节
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them on whom there is blessing will withdraw from society among the
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hills； and when the wicked have exterminated one another； they will again
come forth； and say among themselves； 'The men of former times enjoyed
a very great longevity； but through becoming exceedingly wicked； and
doing all lawless things； the length of our life has been shortened and
reduced even to five years。 Let us now unite together in the practice of
what is good； cherishing a gentle and sympathising heart； and carefully
cultivating good faith and righteousness。 When each one in this way
practises that faith and righteousness； life will go on to double its length
till it reaches 80；000 years。 When Maitreya appears in the world； and
begins to turn the wheel of his Law； he will in the first place save those
among the disciples of the Law left by the Sakya who have quitted their
families； and those who have accepted the three Refuges； undertaken the
five Prohibitions and the eight Abstinences； and given offerings to the
three Precious Ones； secondly and thirdly； he will save those between
whom and conversion there is a connexion transmitted from the past。'〃＇10＇
（Such was the discourse）； and Fa…hien wished to write it down as a
portion of doctrine； but the man said； 〃This is taken from no Sutra； it is
only the utterance of my own mind。〃
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NOTES
＇1＇ Possibly； 〃and asked the bhikshu；〃 &c。 I prefer the other way of
construing； however。
＇2＇ It seems strange that this should have been understood as a
wrapping of the immense pyre with the cloth。 There is nothing in the text
to necessitate such a version； but the contrary。 Compare 〃Buddhist Suttas；〃
pp。 92； 93。
＇3＇ See the description of a funeral car and its decorations in the
Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xxviii； the Li Ki； Book XIX。 Fa…hien's ｛。｝
｛。｝； 〃in this （country）；〃 which I have expressed by 〃our；〃 shows that
whatever notes of this cremation he had taken at the time； the account in
the text was composed after his return to China； and when he had the
usages there in his mind and perhaps before his eyes。 This disposes of all
difficulty occasioned by the 〃dragons〃 and 〃fishes。〃 The ｛。｝ at the end is
merely the concluding particle。
＇4＇ The pyre served the purpose of a burial…ground or grave； and hence
our author writes of it as such。
＇5＇ This king must have been Maha…nana （A。D。 410…432）。 In the time
of his predecessor； Upatissa （A。D。 368…410）； the pitakas were first
translated into Singhalese。 Under Maha…nana； Buddhaghosha wrote his
commentaries。 Both were great builders of viharas。 See the Mahavansa； pp。
247； foll。
＇6＇ See chapter xii。 Fa…hien had seen it at Purushapura； which Eitel
says was 〃the ancient capital of Gandhara。〃
＇7＇ Western Tukhara （｛。｝ ｛。｝） is the same probably as the Tukhara （｛。｝）
of chapter xii； a king of which is there described as trying to carry off the
bowl from Purushapura。
＇8＇ North of the Bosteng lake at the foot of the Thien…shan range （E。 H。；
p。 56）。
＇9＇ See chap。 xii； note 9。 Instead of 〃Anna〃 the Chinese recensions
have Vina； but Vina or Vinataka； and Ana for Sudarsana are names of one
or other of the concentric circles of rocks surrounding mount Meru； the
fabled home of the deva guardians of the bowl。
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＇10＇ That is； those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by
such conversion in the present。
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CHAPTER XL
AFTER TWO YEARS TAKES SHIP FOR CHINA。 DISASTROUS
PASSAGE TO JAVA； AND THENCE TO CHINA； ARRIVES AT SHAN…
TUNG； AND GOES TO NANKING。 CONCLUSION OR L'ENVOI BY
ANOTHER WRITER。
Fa…hien abode in this country two years； and； in addition （to his
acquisitions in Patna）； succeeded in getting a copy of the Vinaya… pitaka of
the Mahisasakah （school）；＇1＇ the Dirghagama and Samyuktagama＇2＇
（Sutras）； and also the Samyukta…sanchaya…pitaka；＇3＇ all being works
unknown in the land of Han。 Having obtained these Sanskrit works； he
took passage in a large merchantman； on board of which there were more
than 200 men； and to which was attached by a rope a smaller vessel； as a
provision against damage or injury to the large one from the perils of the
navigation。 With a favourable wind； they proceeded eastwards for three
days； and then they encountered a great wind。 The vessel sprang a leak and
the water came in。 The merchants wished to go to the small vessel； but the
men on board it； fearing that too many would come； cut the connecting
rope。 The merchants were greatly alarmed； feeling their risk of instant
death。 Afraid that the vessel would fill； they took their bulky goods and
threw them into the water。 Fa…hien also took his pitcher＇4＇ and washing…
basin； with some other articles； and cast them into the sea； but fearing that
the merchants would cast overboard his books and images； he could only
think with all his heart of Kwan…she…yin；＇5＇ and commit his life to （the
protection of） the church of the land of Han；＇6＇ （saying in effect）； 〃I have
travelled far in search of our Law。 Let me； by your dread and supernatural
（power）； return from my wanderings； and reach my resting…place！〃
In this way the tempest＇7＇ continued day and night； till on the
thirteenth day the ship was carried to the side of an island； where； on the
ebbing of the tide； the place of the leak was discovered； and it was stopped；
on which the voyage was resumed。 On the sea （hereabouts） there are many
pirates； to meet with whom is speedy death。 The great ocean spreads out； a
boundless expanse。 There is no knowing east or west； only by observing
the sun； moon； and stars was it possible to go forward。 If the weather were
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dark and rainy； （the ship） went as she was carried by the wind； without any
definite course。 In the darkness of the night； only the great waves were to
be seen； breaking on one another； and emitting a brightness like that of fire；
with huge turtles and other monsters of the deep （all about）。 The
merchants were full of terror； not knowing where they were going。 The sea
was deep and bottomless； and there was no place where they could drop
anchor and stop。 But when the sky became clear； they could tell east and
west； and （the ship） again went forward in the right direction。 If she had
come on any hidden rock； there would have been no way of escape。
After proceeding in this way for rather more than ninety days； they
arrived at a country called Java…dvipa； where various forms of error and
Brahmanism are flourishing； while Buddhism in it is not worth speaking
of。 After staying there for five months； （Fa…hien） again embarked in
another large merchantman； which also had on board more than 200 men。
They carried provisions for fifty days； and commenced the voyage on the
sixteenth day of the fourth month。
Fa…hien kept his retreat on board the ship。 They took a course to the
north…east； intending to fetch Kwang…chow。 After more than a month；
when the night…drum had sounded the second watch； they encountered a
black wind and tempestuous rain； which threw the merchants and
passengers into consternation。 Fa…hien again with all his heart directed his
thoughts to Kwan…she…yin and the monkish communities of the land of
Han； and； through their dread and mysterious protection； was preserved to
day…break。 After day…break； the Brahmans deliberated together
