record of buddhistic kingdoms-第14章
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All south from this is named the Middle Kingdom。＇3＇ In it the cold and heat are finely tempered； and there is neither hoarfrost nor snow。 The people are numerous and happy； they have not to register their households； or attend to any magistrates and their rules； only those who cultivate the royal land have to pay （a portion of） the grain from it。 If they want to go； they go； if they want to stay on； they stay。 The king governs without decapitation or （other） corporal punishments。 Criminals are simply fined； lightly or heavily； according to the circumstances （of each case）。 Even in cases of repeated attempts at wicked rebellion； they only have their right hands cut off。 The king's body…guards and attendants all have salaries。 Throughout the whole country the people do not kill any living creature； nor drink intoxicating liquor； nor eat onions or garlic。 The only exception is that of the Chandalas。＇4＇ That is the name for those who are （held to be） wicked men； and live apart from others。 When they enter the gate of a city or a market…place； they strike a piece of wood to make themselves known； so that men know and avoid them； and do not come into contact with them。 In that country they do not keep pigs and fowls； and do not sell live cattle； in the markets there are no butchers' shops and no dealers in intoxicating drink。 In buying and selling commodities they use cowries。＇5＇ Only the Chandalas are fishermen and hunters； and sell flesh meat。
After Buddha attained to pari…nirvana；＇6＇ the kings of the various countries and the heads of the Vaisyas＇7＇ built viharas for the priests； and endowed them with fields； houses； gardens； and orchards； along with the resident populations and their cattle； the grants being engraved on plates of metal；＇8＇ so that afterwards they were handed down from king to king； without any daring to annul them； and they remain even to the present time。
The regular business of the monks is to perform acts of meritorious virtue； and to recite their Sutras and sit wrapt in meditation。 When stranger monks arrive （at any monastery）； the old residents meet and receive them； carry for them their clothes and alms…bowl； give them water to wash their feet； oil with which to anoint them； and the liquid food permitted out of the regular hours。＇9＇ When （the stranger） has enjoyed a very brief rest； they further ask the number of years that he has been a monk； after which he receives a sleeping apartment with its appurtenances； according to his regular order； and everything is done for him which the rules prescribe。＇10＇
Where a community of monks resides； they erect topes to Sariputtra；＇11＇ to Maha…maudgalyayana；＇12＇ and to Ananda；＇13＇ and also topes （in honour） of the Abhidharma； the Vinaya； and the Sutras。 A month after the （annual season of） rest； the families which are looking out for blessing stimulate one another＇14＇ to make offerings to the monks； and send round to them the liquid food which may be taken out of the ordinary hours。 All the monks come together in a great assembly； and preach the Law；＇15＇ after which offerings are presented at the tope of Sariputtra； with all kinds of flowers and incense。 All through the night lamps are kept burning； and skilful musicians are employed to perform。＇16＇
When Sariputtra was a great Brahman； he went to Buddha； and begged （to be permitted） to quit his family （and become a monk）。 The great Mugalan and the great Kasyapa＇17＇ also did the same。 The bhikshunis＇18＇ for the most part make their offerings at the tope of Ananda； because it was he who requested the World…honoured one to allow females to quit their families （and become nuns）。 The Sramaneras＇19＇ mostly make their offerings to Rahula。＇20＇ The professors of the Abhidharma make their offerings to it； those of the Vinaya to it。 Every year there is one such offering； and each class has its own day for it。 Students of the mahayana present offerings to the Prajna…paramita；＇21＇ to Manjusri；＇22＇ and to Kwan…she…yin。＇23＇ When the monks have done receiving their annual tribute （from the harvests）；＇24＇ the Heads of the Vaisyas and all the Brahmans bring clothes and other such articles as the monks require for use； and distribute among them。 The monks； having received them； also proceed to give portions to one another。 From the nirvana of Buddha；＇25＇ the forms of ceremony； laws； and rules； practised by the sacred communities； have been handed down from one generation to another without interruption。
From the place where （the travellers） crossed the Indus to Southern India； and on to the Southern Sea； a distance of forty or fifty thousand le； all is level plain。 There are no large hills with streams （among them）； there are simply the waters of the rivers。
NOTES
＇1＇ Muttra； 〃the peacock city；〃 lat。 27d 30s N。； lon。 77d 43s E。 （Hunter）； the birthplace of Krishna； whose emblem is the peacock。
＇2＇ This must be the Jumna； or Yamuna。 Why it is called； as here； the P'oo…na has yet to be explained。
＇3＇ In Pali； Majjhima…desa； 〃the Middle Country。〃 See Davids' 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 page 61； note。
＇4＇ Eitel （pp。 145； 6） says； 〃The name Chandalas is explained by 'butchers；' 'wicked men；' and those who carry 'the awful flag；' to warn off their betters；the lowest and most despised caste of India； members of which； however； when converted； were admitted even into the ranks of the priesthood。〃
＇5＇ 〃Cowries；〃 ｛。｝ ｛。｝； not 〃shells and ivory；〃 as one might suppose； but cowries alone； the second term entering into the name from the marks inside the edge of the shell； resembling 〃the teeth of fishes。〃
＇6＇ See chapter xii； note 3； Buddha's pari…nirvana is equivalent to Buddha's death。
＇7＇ See chapter xiii； note 6。 The order of the characters is different here； but with the same meaning。
＇8＇ See the preparation of such a deed of grant in a special case； as related in chapter xxxix。 No doubt in Fa…hien's time； and long before and after it； it was the custom to engrave such deeds on plates of metal。
＇9＇ 〃No monk can eat solid food except between sunrise and noon；〃 and total abstinence from intoxicating drinks is obligatory （Davids' Manual； p。 163）。 Food eaten at any other part of the day is called vikala； and forbidden； but a weary traveller might receive unseasonable refreshment； consisting； as Watters has shown （Ch。 Rev。 viii。 282）； of honey； butter； treacle； and sesamum oil。
＇10＇ The expression here is somewhat perplexing； but it occurs again in chapter xxxviii； and the meaning is clear。 See Watters； Ch。 Rev。 viii。 282； 3。 The rules are given at length in the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xx； p。 272 and foll。； and p。 279 and foll。
＇11＇ Sariputtra （Singh。 Seriyut） was one of the principal disciples of Buddha； and indeed the most learned and ingenious of them all； so that he obtained the title of ｛。｝ ｛。｝； 〃knowledge and wisdom。〃 He is also called Buddha's 〃right…hand attendant。〃 His name is derived from that of his mother Sarika； the wife of Tishya； a native of Nalanda。 In Spence Hardy； he often appears under the name of Upatissa （Upa… tishya）； derived from his father。 Several Sastras are ascribed to him； and indeed the followers of the Abhidharma look on him as their founder。 He died before Sakyamuni； but is to reappear as a future Buddha。 Eitel； pp。 123； 124。
＇12＇ Mugalan； the Singhalese name of this disciple； is more pronounceable。 He also was one of the principal disciples； called Buddha's 〃left…hand attendant。〃 He was distinguished for his power of vision； and his magical powers。 The name in the text is derived from the former attribute； and it was by the latter that he took up an artist to Tushita to get a view of Sakyamuni； and so make a statue of him。 （Compare the similar story in chap。 vi。） He went to hell； and released his mother。 He also died before Sakyamuni； and is to reappear as Buddha。 Eitel； p。 65。
＇13＇ See chapter xii； note 2。
＇14＇ A passage rather difficult to construe。 The 〃families〃 would be those more devout than their neighbours。
＇15＇ One rarely hears this preaching in China。 It struck me most as I once heard it at Osaka in Japan。 There was a pulpit in a large hall of the temple； and the audience sat around on the matted floor。 One priest took the pulpit after another； and
