A Record of Buddhistic KingdomsThis country originally had no human inhabitants, but was occupied only by spirits and n gas, with which merchants of various countries carried on a trade.... Through the coming and going of merchants... when they went away, the people of their various countries heard how pleasant the land was, and flocked to it in numbers till it became a great nation.-from "Chapter XXXVIII: At Ceylon"Little is known about the 5th-century Chinese monk F -hien beyond what he himself tells us in the journals of his travels in India and Ceylon from the years 399 to 414 in search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline. But as he follows in the footsteps of the Buddha, revisiting the legendary places of the faith, his wise observations reveal an enlightenment that transcends time.An important primary source on the traditions and beliefs of Buddhism, this 1886 translation-complete with copious notes on Buddhist ideas and rituals, particular translations, and poetic idioms-is still considered the best English-language version available. Spiritual seekers will find a deeper understanding of Buddhism; students of Asian history will discover a glorious travelogue of an ancient culture.Scottish scholar JAMES LEGGE (1815-1897) was the first professor of Chinese language and literature at Oxford University, serving from 1876 to 1897. Among his many books are The Life and Teaching of Confucius (1867), The Religions of China (1880), and the 50-volume Sacred Books of the East (1879-1891). |
Contents
1 | |
9 | |
ON TO Shenshen and thence to Khoten | 12 |
THROUGH the Tsung or Onion mountains to KEEH | 21 |
WOOCHang or Udyâna Monasteries and their ways | 28 |
DEATH OF HWUYKING IN THE LITTLE SNOWY MOUNTAINS | 40 |
SAŃKâśya BuddhaS ASCENT TO AND DESCENT FROM | 47 |
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Common terms and phrases
alms-bowl Ânanda appear Arhat Aśoka Beal became become Buddha bhikshu Bodhisattva body bowl Brahman Buddhaship Buddhist Buddhist Birth Stories built called Ceylon Ch'ang-gan CHAPTER China Chinese characters connexion converted Corean cubits cubits high Devadatta devas disciples dynasty east Eitel says elephant Fâ-hien flowers and incense four grandly ground Hardy Hardy's heaven hill hînayâna Hwuy-king India Indus Jetavana Kapilavastu Kasyapa Khoten king Aśoka kingdom Law of Buddha LEGENDS LITTLE SNOWY MOUNTAINS Magadha mahâyâna Maitreya meaning meditation Minsert Momit monastery monks mountains nâgas naraka narrative Nidâna nirvana omit paces Pâli pari-nirvâņa Patna perfect Wisdom place where Buddha preached the Law relics Rémusat Rhys Davids river rock rules Sacred Books Śakra Śâkya Śâkyamuni Sanskrit says Eitel seven days Śramans Sûtras thousand monks took tope translated travellers tree Ts'in Tushita Vaiśâlî vihâra Vinaya wished World-honoured yojanas
References to this book
Buddhism: The Light of Asia Kenneth Kuan Sh-Eng Chen,Kenneth Kuan Shêng Chʻen No preview available - 1968 |