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the mountains； and） following the course of their range。 The way was
difficult and rugged； （running along） a bank exceedingly precipitous；
which rose up there； a hill…like wall of rock； 10；000 cubits from the base。
When one approaches the edge of it； his eyes become unsteady； and if he
wished to go forward in the same direction； there was no place on which
he could place his foot； and beneath where the waters of the river called
the Indus。＇1＇ In former times men had chiselled paths along the rocks； and
distributed ladders on the face of them； to the number altogether of 700； at
the bottom of which there was a suspension bridge of ropes； by which the
river was crossed； its banks being there eighty paces apart。＇2＇ The （place
and arrangements） are to be found in the Records of the Nine
Interpreters；＇3＇ but neither Chang K'een＇4＇ nor Kan Ying＇5＇ had reached
the spot。
The monks＇6＇ asked Fa…hien if it could be known when the Law of
Buddha first went to the east。 He replied； 〃When I asked the people of
those countries about it； they all said that it had been handed down by their
fathers from of old that； after the setting up of the image of Maitreya
Bodhisattva； there were Sramans of India who crossed this river； carrying
with them Sutras and Books of Discipline。 Now the image was set up
rather more than 300 years after the nirvana＇7＇ of Buddha； which may be
referred to the reign of king P'ing of the Chow dynasty。＇8＇ According to
this account we may say that the diffusion of our great doctrines （in the
east） began from （the setting up of） this image。 If it had not been through
that Maitreya；＇9＇ the great spiritual master＇10＇ （who is to be） the successor
of the Sakya； who could have caused the 'Three Precious Ones'＇11＇ to be
proclaimed so far； and the people of those border lands to know our Law？
We know of a truth that the opening of （the way for such） a mysterious
propagation is not the work of man； and so the dream of the emperor Ming
of Han＇12＇ had its proper cause。〃
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NOTES
＇1＇ The Sindhu。 We saw in a former note that the earliest name in
China for India was Shin…tuh。 So； here； the river Indus is called by a name
approaching that in sound。
＇2＇ Both Beal and Watters quote from Cunningham （Ladak； pp。 88； 89）
the following description of the course of the Indus in these parts； in
striking accordance with our author's account：〃From Skardo to Rongdo；
and from Rongdo to Makpou…i…shang…rong； for upwards of 100 miles； the
Indus sweeps sullen and dark through a mighty gorge in the mountains；
which for wild sublimity is perhaps unequalled。 Rongdo means the
country of defiles。 。 。 。 Between these points the Indus raves from side to
side of the gloomy chasm； foaming and chafing with ungovernable fury。
Yet even in these inaccessible places has daring and ingenious man
triumphed over opposing nature。 The yawning abyss is spanned by frail
rope bridges； and the narrow ledges of rocks are connected by ladders to
form a giddy pathway overhanging the seething cauldron below。〃
＇3＇ The Japanese edition has a different reading here from the Chinese
copies；one which Remusat （with true critical instinct） conjectured should
take the place of the more difficult text with which alone he was
acquainted。 The 〃Nine Interpreters〃 would be a general name for the
official interpreters attached to the invading armies of Han in their
attempts to penetrate and subdue the regions of the west。 The phrase
occurs in the memoir of Chang K'een； referred to in the next note。
＇4＇ Chang K'een； a minister of the emperor Woo of Han （B。C。 140…87）；
is celebrated as the first Chinese who 〃pierced the void；〃 and penetrated to
〃the regions of the west；〃 corresponding very much to the present
Turkestan。 Through him； by B。C。 115； a regular intercourse was
established between China and the thirty…six kingdoms or states of that
quarter；see Mayers' Chinese Reader's Manual； p。 5。 The memoir of
Chang K'een； translated by Mr。 Wylie from the Books of the first Han
dynasty； appears in the Journal of the Anthropological Institute； referred to
already。
＇5＇ Less is known of Kan Ying than of Chang K'een。 Being sent in A。D。
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
88 by his patron Pan Chao on an embassy to the Roman empire； he only
got as far as the Caspian sea； and returned to China。 He extended； however；
the knowledge of his countrymen with regard to the western regions；see
the memoir of Pan Chao in the Books of the second Han； and Mayers'
Manual； pp。 167； 168。
＇6＇ Where and when？ Probably at his first resting…place after crossing
the Indus。
＇7＇ This may refer to Sakyamuni's becoming Buddha on attaining to
nirvana； or more probably to his pari…nirvana and death。
＇8＇ As king P'ing's reign lasted from B。C。 750 to 719； this would place
the death of Buddha in the eleventh century B。C。； whereas recent inquirers
place it between B。C。 480 and 470； a year or two； or a few years； after that
of Confucius； so that the two great 〃Masters〃 of the east were really
contemporaries。 But if Rhys Davids be correct； as I think he is； in fixing
the date of Buddha's death within a few years of 412 B。C。 （see Manual； p。
213）； not to speak of Westergaard's still lower date； then the Buddha was
very considerably the junior of Confucius。
＇9＇ This confirms the words of Eitel； that Maitreya is already
controlling the propagation of the faith。
＇10＇ The Chinese characters for this simply mean 〃the great scholar or
officer；〃 but see Eitel's Handbook； p。 99； on the term purusha。
＇11＇ 〃The precious Buddha；〃 〃the precious Law；〃 and 〃the precious
Monkhood；〃 Buddha； Dharma； and Sangha； the whole being equivalent to
Buddhism。
＇12＇ Fa…hien thus endorses the view that Buddhism was introduced
into China in this reign； A。D。 58…75。 The emperor had his dream in A。D。
61。
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