graphical identifications by Chavannes, Kurita, and Stein. While giving, so far as possible, a strictly literal and accurate rendering, I have attempted at the same time to make the narrative appeal to the general reader by the omission of foot-notes which most people dislike, and of references to authorities which are usually altogether ignored. Thus, it is hoped that there will be no check to the enjoyment of the reader as he travels along with Fa-hsien on his stupendous journey. TERMS USED BY FA-HSIEN BODHISATVA.-A saint who has only one more earthly state to pass through before becoming a Buddha. EIGHT LIBERATIONS.-Eight processes through which the mind frees itself from all subjective and objective trammels. FOOT (Chinese).-Originally the length of 100 millet-seeds; now, 14.1 inches English. GREATER VEHICLE (mahâyâna).-A later and more exoteric form of Buddhism, in which Buddha appears on earth as a Saviour and the mystery of the Trinity is expressed by images of the three Persons. KUAN YIN.-A male deity in India, and also in China down to the beginning of the 12th century, after which the worship was transferred to a Chinese goddess with a child. LESSER VEHICLE (hînayâna).—The earliest and esoteric form of Buddhism, by which sinners are conveyed to salvation. [There is a Middle Vehicle, not mentioned separately by Fa-hsien.] LI.-One-third of a mile, with local variations according to the difficulty of the route. LO-HAN (Arhan or Arhat).—A Buddhist saint of high standing, destined, some say, to become a Buddha. TERMS USED BY FA-HSIEN PAGODA. This well-known term covers also stûpa, which more strictly is a monument over relics of Buddha. The Chinese term is the same throughout. SEVEN PRECIOSITIES.-Gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, ruby, emerald, coral. SHAMAN.-A Buddhist ascetic or priest. TEN COMMANDMENTS: Thou shalt not take life. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not drink wine. Thou shalt not sit on a grand couch. Thou shalt not wear an ornamental dress. Thou shalt not sing, dance, nor witness plays. Thou shalt not eat except at fixed hours. [Laymen are bound by the first five only.] THREE REFUGES.-The Three Persons of the Buddhist Trinity. The Buddhist Creed: I take my refuge in Buddha, YOJANA.-Originally a yoking of oxen, a day's march; anything from 5 to 10 miles, according to the locality and the difficulty of the route. TRAVELS OF FA-HSIEN RECORD OF THE BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS FORMERLY, when Fa-hsien was at Chang-an, he was distressed by the imperfect state of the Buddhist "Disciplines;" and accordingly, in the second year of the period Hung-shih, the chi-hai year of the cycle (A.D. 399), he entered into an agreement with Hui-ching, Tao-chêng, Hui-ying, Hui-wei and others to go together to India and try to obtain these "Rules." They started from Ch'ang-an, crossed the Lung country (parts of Shensi and Kansuh), and arrived at the State (of the Western Ch'ins) ruled by Ch'ien Kuei; there they went into summer retreat. When this was over, they journeyed on to the State (of the Southern Liangs) ruled by Nou T'an; and crossing the Yang-lou range, they arrived at the market-town of Chang-yeh (in Kansuh). Chang-yeh was in a condition of great political unrest, and roads were impassable; so the king, anxious about their safety, declared himself their "religious protector" and kept them with him there. Here they fell in with Chih-yen, Hui-chien, Sêng-shao, Pao-yün, Sêng-ching and others; and rejoicing to find their errands to be the same, they went into summer retreat together. When this was over, they journeyed on again and reached Tun-huang (at the end of the Great Wall), where the frontier is held by the military for a distance of eighty li from east to west, and forty li from north to south. Having stayed there together for more than a month, Fa-hsien and others, five in all, pushed on ahead in the train of an envoy and were once again separated from Pao-yün and his colleagues. The Governor of Tun-huang, by name Li Hao, gave them all necessaries for crossing the desert of Gobi. In this desert there are a great many evil spirits and also hot winds; those who encounter them perish to a man. There are neither birds above nor beasts below. Gazing on all sides as far as the eye can reach in order to mark the track, no guidance is to be obtained save from the rotting bones of dead men, which point the way. After travelling for seventeen days, about one thousand five hundred li, the party arrived at the country of Shan-shan (south of Lop-Nor). The land is rugged and barren. The clothes of the common people are coarse, like those of the Chinese, the only difference being that the former use felt and serge. The king of this country has received the Faith, and there may be some four thousand and more priests, all belonging to the Lesser Vehicle. The common people of these |