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Unformatted text preview: Notes on the Religious, Moral, and Political State of India before the Mahomedan Invasion,
Chiefly Founded on the Travels of the Chinese Buddhist Priest Fa Hian in India, A.D. 399, and
on the Commentaries of Messrs. Remusat, Klaproth, Burnouf, and Landresse
Author(s): W. H. Sykes
Source: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 6, No. 2 (1841),
pp. 248-484
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Stable URL: .
Accessed: 24/02/2014 17:39
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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 248 on the
and Political
State
Religious, Morale
on
India
the
JStahoniedan
Invasion,
of
before
chiefly founded
the Travels
the
in
Chinese
Hian
Buddhist
Fa
Priest
of
on
the Commentaries
Remit
India, A.D.
399, and
ofMessrs. Art. XIV.?Notes and Landresse. sat, Klaproth)
Burnouf
11. Sykb8, F.H.S*
W. Likut.-Colonkl By Sanskrit scholars have sought, in the depths of Brahmanical
the political, the religious,
literature, for the means of illustrating Our and the moral, times earliest the and social condition it has hitherto minds they found of unbounded looked inquirers which
to
served
coruscations,
only
poetic
was
more
truth
in which
impenetrable.
enveloped
on
that
has
the Mussulman
Mr. Watlicn,
said, seem, to nevertheless,
such of the minds
of such they chose have compositions
or established adapted,
ous supremacy sion all previous destroyed their as well Indians, pretensions
to advance. as as
foreigners,
in their
arrogance, the render
An or they darkness of documents India ; they
or invented, their
which an unreserved
or caprice, own religi
havefettered and
to facts Orientalist, conquest preserved,
as attested cosmogony; from for lights', and historical carefully
in Sanskrit, whose exercised
sought for historic found the Brahmans over people, that Drahmans
The sway. they fables; ancient that been believed admis
selfishness, with respect to the means of eluci
In this state of hopelessness,
of
ancient
the
India, there break upon us lights from
history
dating
a most people,
a wider
have scope obscured
of action, hitherto the literature will go far the Chinese?which hitherto have we source?from unexpected our
and view,
our
Of possessed. and which will deductions
the of that to dissipate value a
and remarkable the mists which give
stabler our character judgments
basis
than
of these " 1 Frofessor The only
?Sanskrit composition
"Wilson says,
to
yet discovered,
is the Raja
be applied,
trhich the title of history van tviih any propriety
Tarinyini,
a history
to the History.
observations
This history
of Cashmir."?Introductory
of 7?)C years
has the proved anachronisms
thinks 1177
nevertheless
[Mr. Tumour
modern
and it is a comparatively
been
and 10-Jll years,
work,
having
years,]
compiled A.n. 1140.
Professor Wilson
also, in his notes on tho JS?ndra JRtikshasa, says, "It may not
here he out of place and SandracoUus.
confidence
attempts cm the identification
of Chaudragupta
to oiler a few observations
is the ont.y point on trhich tve can rest with any thing like // in the history of the Hindus,
and is therefore
to reduce the reigns of their kings to a rational in all our
importance
and consistent chronology." of vital This content downloaded from 130.113.111.210 on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:39:35 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions STATE OF POLITICAL
I leave M.
lights,
into
nal Chinese " one Landresse,
to French, ANCIENT of the for speak INDIA. translators 249
the from origi himself:? If the most pure sources were for ever dried up; if there did
not even remain a solitary sacred book, written
in the idiom inwhich
the Divinity had chosen
to transmit his laws to men, or if these
books not had for yet to come ages issued of the monasteries from and Thibet, in which they are preserved;
if the texts in the
of
the
to the period at
written
Brahmans,
language
subsequently
which they were at the head of religion in India, were absolutely
China if it be objected, rejected;
mit of the or origin were of sequence
are which in their the entire doctrine
its original
traditions strangers; the holy
before words, consonances always are forms Such
originals,
seats the there yet books mixture to us being
to interpreted,
be of
other its progress,
origin,
sources
of information and the and
era. Buddhas, notes but who, subsequently
of their travels
chief I venture iu the sufferings the Himalaya
mountains,
to them,
endeared
by 1The analogous grammatical and extinction. But there less interest and value state of
topographical
sources
come
These India moved
the
travellers,
who,
by
on
to
Jerusalem,
pilgrimages
to their
Hindus
Teerts,
(Tirthas,) count the not glory,
of Christians and by where preserved.'* Chinese their where character, is the character of these Chinese
translations from Indian
illustrative of the principles
and state of Buddhism
in the moral,
political,
respecting
of the Christian
centuries vations, the translations by the Chinese, made reproduced and recognised, the legends
recover or of these authentic are to formulas, remain most in in con purity, and almost of would the gods, desired in its primitive
still of early and it were if the without language,
of from directly are of Buddha, and date, word, the highest antiquity, transmitted from
the one or saints, discrepancies
the Mongols,
the national of those recent comparatively
in to longer possible
to certain and the if the books of the Thibe of consequence cosmogony, introduced; no appertaining their signification; rejected
of their classification constitute which if it were names the to understand heroes,
tans of terms the traced; being roots the discover of etymology language of religion versions do not per that the Singhalese from to chiefly
to
to their their braved collect
return countrymen1. through
to China the sacred
to their
But pious
carries to the Kiblah,
the danger?,
the pri
over
and
Tartary,
to visit lives and India, with
the which feeling
Mahomedans route, associated being same in the from texts of the scenes miracles of
. their religion
an ac
country,
gave
so
M. Landresse
fully of these works,
in that of Fa-llian,
on which
are founded
to lay before the
but olliers will also he ?(noted.
Society, This content downloaded from 130.113.111.210 on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:39:35 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions the Kov'r For characterises
to his course Ki the and :?"The language second the of M. period other that work?, kingdoms, to the half has reference publication, other In many re to have I beg of the Buddhist description Remusat1." AND MORAL, RELIGIOUS, is the object of the present which
of ON THF. NOTES 250 Remu M. works, to show that the Chinese had learnt to make the tour
sat endeavoured
of Asia, long before Europeans had doubled the Cape of Good Hope;
not disposed generally table manner
never ceased political
which seemed commerce and to entertain to of Western either
the with relations trace as
in an people
incontes arc they had taken, two centuries before our the part which events in the era, so
in practical
ignorant
geography,
to believe.
texts
Numerous
prove they were that and or inhabitants of Tartary the through that From Asia. amicable two those they
or
towns of lines to Persia. China from road time commercial hostile, In the century that preceded the birth of Christ, they sought to contract
an alliance with the kings of Bactriana;
and subsequently
the last
of members the Emperor events these
the precious Never of mixed of ambition ; and we see countries seas the and which into mountains
and perils, of which places sought by all profited were they communications religious which nor conquest,
as
is not it humble surmount without admiration, ecclesiastics cross traverse armies,
stopped
caravan
had
dared
which obstacles, appetite
which into had
no the those removed the deserts to penetrate,
set at
nought had and
the some of them to sow at a distance will of emperors: of
the the were
to verify
attached
themselves
j and others
they
which
and
them birth,
of their
in the country
faith,
gave
in the life of Buddha."
rendered
sacred
by events
places to which belief principles
the
visit
"
most
The suth the of tained the is beyond all he doubt our
of authenticity
that these
is that before century circumstances kind of ancient
mention, preserves tory it the
the tism
penetrated
prosely
that
with
astonishment, into all-powerful in to far brave to of so rivers
and the did conduct gain,
zeal Ta?-tsoung.
knowledge
it is
all, the Arabs, by The Chinese that they owe the most
and entertained by Buddhism
part of the knowledge which they collected respecting foreign nations. the above but theatre; established a to obtain in Persia overthrown the Sassanidcs, refuge with reports
at
that of which religious
undertakings,
of the travels
of Lao-tseu
era. Whatever this
are tradition,
not extremely all opinion
and equally
remote his to the west,
may be enter
as the
particularly
of
credence,
worthy
a
there was
periods into China of the doctrine of
of reciprocity in the importations
and in the propagation beyond the limits of this country Buddha,
of the precepts
1M. of Lao-tseu. Remusat divides It follows
his history from of Buddhism many passages into three periods. This content downloaded from 130.113.111.210 on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:39:35 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions in Foe its and head before.our
tries founder at was, we not could well of the Doctors opinions hists?an which analogy too to or cation, name who faith. He to to from China the doctrines. is removed that lead this analogy
communi all of priest, the first Buddhist westward for passes having
of China, sovereigns
Chinese
civilization with acquainted to sent the mis
his propagate seat of was the govern
reason is every there also thus to first the Chi li fang was accompanied some books sacred with Under him. in the first year of Youau Chiou, (two
some other books were taken by I tsun
the from the
where its birth, had had ti, of the dynasty
3rears before Jesus Christ,) Ai been
and Buddhism.
and ecclesiastics, was their of
independent
A Buddhist been between of the Budd constantly to believe influence. to have iu India. in Chan si in the year 217 before our era; which who of which errors, us countries of Han, Keow, base very of permit in two first eighteen and traditional came that believe become
by truths
to up arrived province,
of the ment of of Chi li fang, appears sionary the century
the coun exists of the popular belief, and which point, sprung
of some to in those and as Lao-tseu even which analogy 251 fifth the of (Lao-tseu) extends circle same the
have should this the from far the deny of Reason as well as to the details
men commencement the an
from
already
early
period
dispersed
to the west
of China,
and
and south-west era, situated Moreover,
the sect which acknowledged that the philosophical Koue-ki INDIA. OF ANCIENT STATE POLITICAL of nation the Cetes1 ; and about the time the king of their country ordered a learned disciple of the
named King
sect of Buddha,
lou, to proceed to India to study
the
of
At this period, says the
Buddhism.
precepts
[verify ?]
Chinese historian, the Buddhist sectaries were dispersed throughout
same our and frontiers, not professed.
not occur fested their known iu be called about afterwards. until years sixty iu a dream himself was doctrine That which may
to the Emperor the it was but empire, its official adoption
Buddha
this Mingti, did mani having
prince charged to collect
learned individuals
iu Hindustan
information
respecting the Buddhist religion, to copy its precepts, and to draw its
several and temples
siastics. It Buddhist
frequent
most
of
labours
search
held and
priests,
and regular
the nations
of zealous for They
that images.
was
then it in the that returned accompanied
China
commenced Central
their of interior missionaries
countries was religion communications from some Asia:
; and where publicly
to
China others
it was to known pious
to have in honour.
1 eccle
possess professed. SeythiiiiiH. This content downloaded from 130.113.111.210 on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:39:35 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions By it reached India received
sent two by from the pilgrims
been long it to NOTES 252 ON THE AND MORAL, RELIGIOUS, second century
very many Buddhist
from Bokhara, from the country of the
form religious establishments
$ and they
India.
the
languages of
taught
travelled over the
Chinese Buddhist
lesser Bokhara;
and iu 265 a Scythian, who had collected in the
countries of the West numerous holy books, had arrived in China to
translate them.
The notice which M. Remusat has devoted to Fo the end of the
"Before
in China
had
arrived
priests
from
and
Getes,
Hindustan, to
their
doctrines, and
preached
"In the year A.n. 257, a thou tchhing in the Universal Biography informs us of the influence
exercised in the begin
which this Buddhist priest, from Hindustan,
west of the Chinese
and
north
of
in
the
the
fourth
century
ning
in
crowds around him
which
he
The
united
empire.
disciples
extended his witness fame: the his miracles. ran people to embraced Many his by
profit
a
religious and the
ma Tan greatest ye and, ho, and Cophene, the progress in China. above Kieou all, tchhing, and, like him, powerfully
ence the new of M.
book of steps Fo the to extend contributed ho,
of
thou influ religion." now Landresse
from the in ye a native first lo
trod tho Fo Sangadeva,
the
chi, ma of Hindustan, others contemplative in which Buddhism life; and this may be looked upon as the period
made to and sermons, which are my He taken. chiefly the of Foe Kou'? Ki, the author introduces
notes of says the tra to the clerical
that he was "a Buddhist
priest, belonging
His
school, of which Kieou ma lo chi was the head.
family name
was Koung,
and his ancestors were originally from Ping 3rang, in
Chan si. Dedicated
to the monastic
life from his birth, he received
veller at the of age three or one aspirant,
similar
Indian That us that and then ma chi to having initiated iu all a Cha made Fa
is Chy
of the Law.' devout
his imitated or one only
or, Iliun, disciple,
from ascetic
which by shortly, Fa
and wisdom The to Tchhang'an
it was
; and persons the mysteries or is moral the attracted continually nie, which
some and him, a
concourse
of
fou)
great
came
to complete
hian
Fa
been was religious
indicate
which given lo he names to know
him,
'
Manifestation permitted
which
signifies
ness
of Kieou
Si'an those terms,
was which when years,
of and studies; theological
of the esoteric idea.
it is hian,
holi
(now
there
after
he doctrine, the quality or dignity of
the final precepts, and obtained
lost to the
which
the
or
But
of
Buddha.
wars,
Samancan,
priest
received Dynasty
Imperial
and occasioned Tartar princes,
century of our almost
its division the whole amongst of the northern a number of proved fatal to Buddhism. At were found era, the sacred texts part petty of China, Thibetan and the end of the fourth
to be This content downloaded from 130.113.111.210 on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:39:35 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions mutilated or STATE OF ANCIENT POLITICAL precepts
the faith, and extinct, or abandoned, neglected wanting and lights 253 all zeal became to operate. ceased support, alllicted at this state of things, Fa hian quitted Profoundly
and land, were the dispersed, INDIA. directed his towards steps those countries his native watered the by holy rivers. Many of his co-religionists
joined with him, and in the
year of our era 39?) the little band were beyond the frontiers of China.
of
into the mountains
They crossed all Tartary; they penetrated
are
where
of
means
the
chains
of
the
Thibet,
By
globe.
highest
cords, and flying bridges, and steps hewn iu the rock, they cleared
otherwise inaccessible valleys, and precipices of 8000 feet in height:
they twice passed the Indus, and followed the banks of the Ganges
to the sea. There Fa hian alone remained of the little band that had
set out with him. the navigated
he returned He to for Ceylon, embarked seas Indian for Tchhang'an,in three nearly
the year after whence, having
at Java, months, touching
travelled
having a.d.411, about twelve hundred leagues by land, and more than two thousand by
sea. He had traversed thirty kingdoms, visited all the places which
tradition
but had the admire Buddhist rendered and sacred,
the virtues, above
and piety, ' said all,
the I he, regular not could
of conduct the ecclesiastics.' "But spectacles less gratifying awaited him in his native country.
Since his departure, the state of the Buddhists was not ameliorated.
A violent persecution was preparing against them in the north of
and
China, which burst forth about the middle of the fifth century,
for a time arrested their progress.
were
or
con
to
They
fly
obliged
ceal themselves, and their books became a prey to the flames.
But
from the other efforts, first belief, and to re-establish of Fifteen next
by their
A.n. the year the originals.?In
countries the Persia. the of years to recommence century,
means 502, Soung-y
Oudyana,
the afterwards they were
to render back way in employed to China, after Tokharestan, visiting every part of Hindustan.
at least the narrative different
which
time,
as a countries,
we
the are of his and Ming
into the
lliuan of more Eastern
sent western
thsang than Afghanistan, ti was on years, twenty Scind, Yun
coun and almost It is he who extended his
steps the farthest;
travels, is the most acquainted
of sovereign
relic
precious an absence to make upon Kandahar,
emperor the Samaneen],
Fa
li, and others,
[sumamed
tries to study
the books
of Buddha.
In a.d.
650
his seen their
popular
the authority
of
un and
traversed
Hoc'i-scng traditions religious Badakshhan,
years new from which extended detailed Chinese authorities. sent mantle Kashgar
to the
emperor the
Kao a contains
and tsoung. of 1 10
description
of all those with
About of the same S?kya
[Buddha],
There
is also
in two This content downloaded from 130.113.111.210 on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:39:35 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions NOTES 254
a books, ON
of catalogue undertook in travels the the in the
tseu, The very he who edited very the we of which mentioned, and of Lao a native of Hoei the of expedition.
coun
different of we
at which
to a period
the
of
kingdoms
are found
particulars relate state the China, have then Landresse narrative respecting of westward many from other
knowledge
slight
in some
reflections
admirable but indulges versed of Confucius,
he was and out upon a man them amongst the accounts they with
set priests and books written but
as ideas expedi In conformity Wang,
the detailed; attention, imperfect
to situated M. was lasted, considerable doctrines?those name the more merit have three the was There of Tang Buddhist of Buddha, reliques
tree. hundred ecclesiastics, fifty-six most the three his is not narrative tries of it was and But tsou, Latanier the knowledge
and Buddha; tcheou, Tai to collect of leaves by the dynasty that the West. emperor for Hindustan written narratives, centuries AND MORAL, UKLIGIOUS, took place in 964 of our era. tion is that which
of the the three who, during a decree THIS sources."
on the singularity and importance of our finding in Chinese literature these
new lights with respect to India, but...
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