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flourishing population。 The inhabitants all profess our Law； and join
together in its religious music for their enjoyment。＇1＇ The monks amount
to several myriads； most of whom are students of the mahayana。＇2＇ They
all receive their food from the common store。＇3＇ Throughout the country
the houses of the people stand apart like （separate） stars； and each family
has a small tope＇4＇ reared in front of its door。 The smallest of these may be
twenty cubits high； or rather more。＇5＇ They make （in the monasteries）
rooms for monks from all quarters；＇5＇ the use of which is given to
travelling monks who may arrive； and who are provided with whatever
else they require。
The lord of the country lodged Fa…hien and the others comfortably； and
supplied their wants； in a monastery＇6＇ called Gomati；＇6＇ of the mahayana
school。 Attached to it there are three thousand monks； who are called to
their meals by the sound of a bell。 When they enter the refectory； their
demeanour is marked by a reverent gravity； and they take their seats in
regular order； all maintaining a perfect silence。 No sound is heard from
their alms…bowls and other utensils。 When any of these pure men＇7＇
require food； they are not allowed to call out （to the attendants） for it； but
only make signs with their hands。
Hwuy…king； Tao…ching； and Hwuy…tah set out in advance towards the
country of K'eeh…ch'a；＇8＇ but Fa…hien and the others； wishing to see the
procession of images； remained behind for three months。 There are in this
country four＇9＇ great monasteries； not counting the smaller ones。
Beginning on the first day of the fourth month； they sweep and water the
streets inside the city； making a grand display in the lanes and byways。
Over the city gate they pitch a large tent； grandly adorned in all possible
ways； in which the king and queen； with their ladies brilliantly arrayed；＇10＇
take up their residence （for the time）。
The monks of the Gomati monastery； being mahayana students； and
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held in great reverence by the king； took precedence of all others in the
procession。 At a distance of three or four le from the city； they made a
four…wheeled image car； more than thirty cubits high； which looked like
the great hall （of a monastery） moving along。 The seven precious
substances＇11＇ were grandly displayed about it； with silken streamers and
canopies hanging all around。 The （chief） image＇12＇ stood in the middle of
the car； with two Bodhisattvas＇13＇ in attendance upon it； while devas＇14＇
were made to follow in waiting； all brilliantly carved in gold and silver；
and hanging in the air。 When （the car） was a hundred paces from the gate；
the king put off his crown of state； changed his dress for a fresh suit； and
with bare feet； carrying in his hands flowers and incense； and with two
rows of attending followers； went out at the gate to meet the image； and；
with his head and face （bowed to the ground）； he did homage at its feet；
and then scattered the flowers and burnt the incense。 When the image was
entering the gate； the queen and the brilliant ladies with her in the gallery
above scattered far and wide all kinds of flowers； which floated about and
fell promiscuously to the ground。 In this way everything was done to
promote the dignity of the occasion。 The carriages of the monasteries were
all different； and each one had its own day for the procession。 （The
ceremony） began on the first day of the fourth month； and ended on the
fourteenth； after which the king and queen returned to the palace。
Seven or eight le to the west of the city there is what is called the
King's New Monastery； the building of which took eighty years； and
extended over three reigns。 It may be 250 cubits in height； rich in elegant
carving and inlaid work； covered above with gold and silver； and finished
throughout with a combination of all the precious substances。 Behind the
tope there has been built a Hall of Buddha；＇15＇ of the utmost magnificence
and beauty； the beams； pillars； venetianed doors； and windows being all
overlaid with gold…leaf。 Besides this； the apartments for the monks are
imposingly and elegantly decorated； beyond the power of words to express。
Of whatever things of highest value and preciousness the kings in the six
countries on the east of the （Ts'ung） range of mountains＇16＇ are possessed；
they contribute the greater portion （to this monastery）； using but a small
portion of them themselves。＇17＇
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NOTES
＇1＇ This fondness for music among the Khoteners is mentioned by
Hsuan and Ch'wang and others。
＇2＇ Mahayana。 It is a later form of the Buddhist doctrine； the second
phase of its development corresponding to the state of a Bodhisattva； who；
being able to transport himself and all mankind to nirvana； may be
compared to a huge vehicle。 See Davids on the 〃Key…note of the 'Great
Vehicle；'〃 Hibbert Lectures； p。 254。
＇3＇ Fa…hien supplies sufficient information of how the common store
or funds of the monasteries were provided； farther on in chapters xvi and
xxxix； as well as in other passages。 As the point is important； I will give
here； from Davids' fifth Hibbert Lecture （p。 178）； some of the words of the
dying Buddha； taken from 〃The Book of the Great Decease；〃 as
illustrating the statement in this text：〃So long as the brethren shall
persevere in kindness of action； speech； and thought among the saints；
both in public and private； so long as they shall divide without partiality；
and share in common with the upright and holy； all such things as they
receive in accordance with the just provisions of the order； down even to
the mere contents of a begging bowl； 。 。 。 so long may the brethren be
expected not to decline； but to prosper。〃
＇4＇ The Chinese ｛。｝ （t'ah； in Cantonese； t'ap）； as used by Fa…hien； is； no
doubt； a phonetisation of the Sanskrit stupa or Pali thupa； and it is well in
translating to use for the structures described by him the name of topes；
made familiar by Cunningham and other Indian antiquarians。 In the
thirteenth chapter there is an account of one built under the
superintendence of Buddha himself； 〃as a model for all topes in future。〃
They were usually in the form of bell…shaped domes； and were solid；
surmounted by a long tapering pinnacle formed with a series of rings；
varying in number。 But their form； I suppose； was often varied； just as we
have in China pagodas of different shapes。 There are several topes now in
the Indian Institute at Oxford； brought from Buddha Gaya； but the largest
of them is much smaller than 〃the smallest〃 of those of Khoten。 They were
intended chiefly to contain the relics of Buddha and famous masters of his
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Law；