record of buddhistic kingdoms-第30节
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kill one another。 Those among them on whom there is blessing will withdraw from society among the 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。〃
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。
＇10＇ That is； those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by such conversion in the present。
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 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 and said； 〃It is having this Sramana on board which has occasioned our misfortune and brought us this great and bitter suffering。 Let us land the bhikshu and place him on some island…shore。 We must not for the sake of one man allow ourselves to be exposed to such imminent peril。〃 A patron of Fa…hien； however； said to them； 〃If you land the bhikshu； you must at the same time land me； and if you do not； then you must kill me。 If you land this Sramana； when I get to the land of Han； I will go to the king； and inform against you。 The king also reveres and believes the Law of Buddha； and honours the bhikshus。〃 The merchants hereupon were perplexed； and did not dare immediately to land （Fa…hien）。
At this time the sky continued very dark and gloomy； and the sailing… masters looked at one another and made mistakes。 More than seventy days passed （from their leaving Java）； and the provisions and water were nearly exhausted。 They used the salt…water of the sea for cooking； and carefully divided the （fresh） water； each man getting two pints。 Soon the whole was nearly gone； and the merchants took counsel and said； 〃At the ordinary rate of sailing we ought to have reached Kwang…chow； and now the time is passed by many days；must we not have held a wrong course？〃 Immediately they directed the ship to the north… west； looking out for land； and after sailing day and night for twelve days； they reached the shore on the south of mount Lao；＇8＇ on the borders of the prefecture of Ch'ang…kwang；＇8＇ and immediately got good water and vegetables。 They had passed through many perils and hardships； and had been in a state of anxious apprehension for many days together； and now suddenly arriving at this shore； and seeing those （well…known） vegetables； the lei and kwoh；＇9＇ they knew indeed that it was the land of Han。 Not seeing； however； any inhabitants nor any traces of them； they did not know whereabouts they were。 Some said that they had not yet got to Kwang…chow； and others that they had passed it。 Unable to come to a definite conclusion； （so
