Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang)
by Samuel Beal | 1884 | 224,928 words | ISBN-10: 8120811070
This is the English translation of the travel records of Xuanzang (or, Hiuen Tsiang): a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India during the seventh century. This book recounts his documents his visit to India and neighboring countries, and reflects the condition of those countries during his time, including temples, culture, traditions and fest...
Chapter 17 - Country of Ta-mi (Termed)
This country[1] is 600 li or so from east to west, and 400 li or so from north to south. The capital of the country is about 20 li in circuit, extended from east to west, and narrow from north to south. There are about ten saṅghārāmas with about one thousand monks. The stūpas and the images of the honoured Buddha are noted for various spiritual manifestations. Going east we arrive at Ch'i-ngoh-yen-na.[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Termed or Termiz, on the north bank of the Amu-daria. Conf. Baber's Memoirs, int., p. xxxv.; Bretschneider, Med. Geog., pp. 57, 167; Deguignes, Histoire des Huns, tom. ii. p. 328; Yule, Cathay, p. ccxxxv; édrisi, tome i. p. 273; Jour. Asiat., ser. vi. tome v. p. 270; Jour. R. Geog. Soc., vol. xxxvi. p. 263; vol. xlii. p. 510.
[2]:
Before entering on this excursus, it will be better to explain Hiuen Tsiang's actual route. From a comparison of the text with the narrative of Hwui-lih, it will be seen that, after leaving the Iron gates, and entering Tukhāra, he proceeded across the Oxus to the country called Hwo. This almost certainly is represented by Kunduz, on the eastern bank of the Surkh-āb. Here he met with the eldest son of the Khān of the Turks. This prince had married the sister of the king of Kao-chang, from whom Hiuen Tsiang had letters of recommendation. After some delay the pilgrim proceeded, in company with some priests from Balkh, to that city (Po-ho). Here he remained examining the sacred relics of his religion for some days. From this he departs southwards along the Balkh river to Dara-gaz, and there entering the mountains, he proceeds still southwards to Bāmiyān. So that of all the countries named betwixt the Oxus and the Hindu Kush, Hiuen Tsiang only himself visited Hwo (Kunduz), Po-ho (Balkh), Kie-chi (Gaz), and Fan-yen-na (Bāmiyān). This is gathered not only from the records found in Hwui-lih, but also from the use of the symbol hing. The excursus begins from Termed, at which point he probably crossed the Oxus, and proceeds, as the text says, along the northern flow of the river.