Travels of Fah-Hian and Sung-Yun, Buddhist pilgrims : from China to India (400 A.D. and 518 A.D.) / translated from Chinese by Samuel Beal.

  • Faxian
Date:
1869
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels of Fah-Hian and Sung-Yun, Buddhist pilgrims : from China to India (400 A.D. and 518 A.D.) / translated from Chinese by Samuel Beal. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In after times King Kanishka was born, and, on one occasion, as he was going on a tour of inspection, the divine ruler Sekra, wishing to originate the first thoughts of such a purpose, caused to appear before him a little shepherd boy making a Pagoda on the road. The King tlien stopped and asked him what lie was doing, to which, lie replied, (i I am making a tower in honour of Buddha.^ The King said, “you are a very good boy,” and immediately set about building a great tower over that of the little sheplierd boy. The height of it was 47Oft. and more, and it was decorated with every sort of precious substance, so that all who passed by and saw the exquisite beauty and graceful the Yuchi advanced still southwards, and occupied Sogdiana and Tahia (or, the country of the Dahae. [Dahse qui inter Oxum et Jaxartern non procul a Maris Caspii littore habitabant, Justin, xii. 6, not.] The Hiungnu having become tributary to China, b.c. 60, the Yuchi consolidated their power, and about 39—26 b.c. the King of the most powerful of their tribes (the Kwai-tchang or Gouchang tribe), uniting the other four tribes with his own, advanced still soutli and conquered Ariana, Caubul, and Gand- hara. The name of this chief was Khiu-tsiu-hi (supposed to be the same as Hyrkodes of the coins). His son, Yen-kao-Ching (Hima Kadpbises), continued his father’s conquests, and subdued all India to the west of the Jamna. He ruled from about 35 b.c., to 15 b.c. His son was the cele- brated Kanislika, who, with his brothers Hushka and Jushka, ruled over Cashmir for 60 years. He was converted to Buddhism, which gave a sudden impulse to that religion, and caused it to spread rapidly throughout the Tocharian dominion. The third great synod (that is according to Northern accounts,—the Southern school do not recognise this Council) was held in Cashmir during his reign. The finest Stupas in the Cabui Valley and Panjab were built under his auspices. His reign extended, probably, from b.c. 15 to a.d. 45. (C.) Lassen places the reign of Kanishka between 10 a.d. and 40 a.d. (Viv. St. M. 300.)